ELLISVILLE – The Itawamba Lady Indians overcame an early 12-point deficit and went on to defeat Jones County 78-72 here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
JCJC got off to a quick start and took an 18-6 lead with 2:59 left in the first quarter on a 3-pointer from the right corner by Ashailee Brailey. ICC cut the lead to 19-12 at the end of the first quarter.
ICC capped a 16-1 run with 7:04 left in the second quarter when Marlee Hatcher scored off a steal and a layup to take a 22-19 lead.
The Lady Bobcats took their final lead of the night at 26-24 with 2:54 left in the first half when Brailey hit a 12-footer. The Lady Indians took the lead for good at 34-32 with 54 seconds left in the second quarter on a putback by Treasure Evans.
ICC led 36-32 at halftime.
The Lady Indians took their longest lead of the third quarter at 54-46 with 3:44 showing when Asia Partlow made two free throws.
ICC was up 61-53 early in the fourth quarter when JCJC bounced back. Hanah Lott's 3-pointer with 6:09 remaining cut the margin to 65-63. ICC ran the lead back out to 69-63, but the Lady Bobcats pulled within 73-71 with 2:28 left on a Tatyana Lofton basket.
However, ICC outscored JCJC 5-1 from that point and pulled out the win.
The Lady Bobcats, 2-2, received 20 points from Lofton and 12 each from Lott and Aliyah Bell. Bell had 10 rebounds, while Wendion Bibbins added eight. Lott led the team with four assists.
Evans and Alontra Tucker had 20 points each for Itawamba, 4-0, while Hatcher and Jabria Pounds added 11 each. Tucker had eight rebounds.
The Lady Bobcats were 24-of-68 from the floor (9-of-27 from 3-point range) for 35 percent. They were 15-of-25 from the foul line.
ICC was 29-of-62 from the field (7-of-16 from behind the arc) for 47 percent. The Lady Indians were 13-of-24 from the free throw line.
ICC outrebounded JCJC 41-39. JCJC had 17 turnovers, compared to 12 for Itawamba.
JCJC visits Alabama Southern for a 5:30 p.m. game on Tuesday.
Itawamba travels to Lawson State (Alabama) on Saturday.
 
WOMEN
Thursday's game
Ellisville
At A.B. Howard Gymnasium
Itawamba 78, Jones County 72
Itawamba                  12  24  20  22  – 78
Jones County           19  13  21  19  – 72
ITAWAMBA (4-0) – Alontra Tucker 20, Treasure Evans 20, Jabria Pounds 11, Marlee Hatcher 11, Raylin Starks 7, Alison Childs 3, Erika Toney 2, AaLiyah Thornton 2, Asia Partlow 2, Julianna Garner 0, Zaida Cox 0, Grace Elliott 0.
JONES COUNTY (2-2) – Tatyana Lofton 20, Aliyah Bell 12, Hanah Lott 12, Myyah West 8, Ashailee Brailey 8, Wendion Bibbins 5, Anna Wilks 3, Kanisha Tharpe 3, Patrice Tate 1, Dana Brown 0.