ELLISVILLE – The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats took a 15-point lead midway through the first half and held off Pearl River Community College, 66-61, here Thursday night before a large crowd at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
The victory moves JCJC to 9-3 overall, 3-1 in the MACJC South Division.
With the game knotted at 6-6 early, JCJC went on a 17-2 run to take control.
Alyson Johnson's basket off a Taylor Baudoin assist put the Lady Bobcats ahead, 23-8 at the 10:29 mark. JCJC's longest lead of the game came at 32-16 with 4:49 left in the first half when Terrica Williams scored.
The Lady Bobcats led 38-27 at halftime.
A Williams' basket off a rebound gave JCJC a 46-33 lead with 16:21 left. But Pearl River went on a 14-3 run and closed the lead to 49-47 with 10:31 to play when Tamera Williams made a 3-pointer from the left wing.
JCJC then had a 12-3 run of its own and went back ahead 61-50 with 6:17 remaining when Starla Daggans made a 10-footer.
The Lady Wildcats would have another rally and get within 63-61 with 38.2 seconds to play when Essence Pulliam scored off a rebound.
But the Lady Bobcats got an old-fashioned 3-point play from Baudoin off an assist by Kadie Parker with 11.7 seconds left to seal it.
Daggans had 20 points for JCJC, while Baudoin added 15. Parker had eight steals, while Baudoin and Williams had six rebounds each. Daggans had three assists.
Shaniqua Magee led Pearl River, 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the division, with 12 points.
JCJC was 24-of-60 from the field, including 0-of-9 from 3-point range, for 40 percent. The Lady Bobcats were 18-of-26 from the free throw line.
Pearl River was 23-of-54 from the floor, including 4-of-13 from 3-point range, for 43 percent. The Lady Wildcats were 11-of-17 from the free throw line.
JCJC outrebounded Pearl River, 34-29. The Lady Bobcats committed 26 turnovers, compared to 18 for PRCC.
The Lady Bobcats will host Meridian Community College at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The game will be webcast on www.jcjc.tv.
Pearl River travels to Mississippi Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Thursday's game
At Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
WOMEN
Jones County 66, Pearl River 61
PEARL RIVER (6-4, 1-3) – Shaniqua Magee 12, Vamikka Smith 10, Asia Thibodeaux 8, Iesha Dixon 7, Akayla Powell 6, Tamera Williams 6, Essence Pulliam 6, An'Dreka Harper 3, Jasmine Nettles 2, Ka'nosha Fairley 1.
JONES COUNTY (9-3, 3-1) – Starla Daggans 20, Taylor Baudoin 15, Terrica Williams 7, Aliyah Bell 6, Jayda Simmons 5, Kadie Parker 4, Alyson Johnson 3, Ameonia House 2, Kristen Smith 2, Hayley Pichon 2, Mallory Odom 0.
Halftime: 38-27, Jones County.