EMCC Lady Lions fall 71-42 at unbeaten Pearl River following layoff
In their first game action in nearly two weeks, the Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College dropped a 71-42 road decision to unbeaten Pearl River Community College during Monday’s non-conference women’s basketball action played at Marvin R. White Coliseum.
POPLARVILLE – In their first game action in nearly two weeks, the Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College dropped a 71-42 road decision to unbeaten Pearl River Community College during Monday's non-conference women's basketball action played at Marvin R. White Coliseum.
Having not competed since Nov. 21-22 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast-hosted Bulldog Thanksgiving Classic in Perkinston, EMCC didn't get on the scoreboard against PRCC until a Sadie Williams basket within the final minute of play in the opening quarter. By that time, the Wildcats had mounted a 15-2 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The visitors battled Pearl River to within a point during the second and third quarters in narrowly being outscored 14-13 and 20-19 in the respective 10-minute periods. The Lady Lions managed to cut the deficit to single digits with four minutes remaining in the first half when Nakeria Scales' inside bucket made it a 23-14 contest. The Wildcats recovered to take a 29-15 lead into halftime.
PRCC scored the first seven points coming out of the break to extend the lead to 21 points (36-15), before DJ Williams put the Lady Lions back on the board with 7:19 left in the third quarter. EMCC continued to compete by trimming the Wildcats' lead to 15 points (49-34) after a steal and resulting basket by Sadie Williams at the end of the quarter.
That was as close as the visitors would get the rest of the way, however, as Pearl River outscored the Lady Lions 22-8 in the fourth quarter on the way to the 29-point home triumph.
Sophomore forward Sukkima Suell approached a double-double for East Mississippi with 14 points and eight rebounds. Scales and Sadie Williams were next with six points apiece.
As a team, the Lady Lions were held to 15-of-55 (27%) shooting from the field, including 0-of-10 from behind the three-point arc.
Pearl River was led by J'Mani Ingram with 18 points and nine rebounds. Ty'Mesha Reed followed with 16 points for the Wildcats.
Coach Isaiah Butler's 2-4 EMCC Lady Lions will conclude the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule by traveling to Tuscaloosa to meet Shelton State on Dec. 12. Monday's EMCC-SSCC hoops doubleheader will begin with a 5:30 p.m. women's game followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest. The Lady Lions are then slated to close out the calendar year by participating in the Lake Charles (La.) New Year's Classic, Dec. 30-31.