Lady Lions edged, 45-42, in MACCC road action at Pearl River
In a defensive struggle, the visiting EMCC Lady Lions were edged, 45-42, by Pearl River during Thursday's MACCC women's basketball action played at Marvin R. White Coliseum.
POPLARVILLE -- In a defensive struggle, the visiting EMCC Lady Lions were edged, 45-42, by Pearl River during Thursday's MACCC women's basketball action played at Marvin R. White Coliseum.
The Lady Lions initially owned the advantage during Thursday's low-scoring contest. Early three-pointers by Shakira Wilson and Jenessa Souza staked the visitors to a 10-4 lead four minutes into the game.
Pearl River gained control later in the opening quarter by going on a 17-2 run that was capped by consecutive three-pointers from Otashae Burrage and a subsequent trey by Tristen Washington. The Wildcats scored the last 13 points of the quarter to take a 21-12 lead into the second period.
The defensive-minded second quarter featured only two made field goals and just a dozen points scored between the two teams combined. EMCC's Siarra Jackson proved to be a bright spot by hitting 6-of-6 free throws and a basket during the quarter to help trim the visitors' deficit to 24-21 by halftime.
The Lady Lions reclaimed the lead in the second half by scoring the last eight points of the third quarter that included three-pointers by Souza and Wilson. DJ Williams' basket to open the fourth-quarter scoring capped a 10-0 run that gave EMCC a 37-30 lead.
Washington provided a lift for Pearl River by hitting a pair of three-pointers, including converting a four-point play with a free throw, to knot the score at 39-39 with six minutes remaining in the game. The Wildcats then took the lead for good down the stretch on consecutive baskets by Burrage and Washington.
After Jackson's bucket capped her career-high-tying, 19-point effort to make it a one-point (43-42) game with 1:24 left, PRCC's Marcavia Shavers provided the game's final margin by scoring with 12 ticks remaining. EMCC did have a last-second try for a potential game-tying basket, but Kyunna Thomas' three-point attempt misfired at the buzzer.
Dropping to 8-8 overall and 5-3 within conference play, the EMCC women were led by Jackson's game-high 19 points, including 11-of-12 accuracy from the charity stripe. The Ripley product also pulled down eight rebounds. Thomas added eight points and 11 boards for the Lady Lions.
Improving to 14-3 overall and 7-1 in the MACCC, the Pearl River women were paced by Washington and Burrage with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Head coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions are scheduled to play host to the Coahoma Lady Tigers on Monday evening (Jan. 31). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.