ELLISVILLE – Tatyana Lofton scored 37 points and had 10 rebounds to spark Jones County Junior College to a 95-84 victory over East Central Community College here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
JCJC improves to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the MACJC South Division. East Central falls to 5-2 and 1-1.
Lofton was 11-of-18 from the field, 1-of-1 from 3-point range and 14-of-16 from the free throw line.
The Lady Bobcats trailed for most of the first half.
ECCC scored the game's first seven points and led 12-2 with just over six minutes to play in the opening quarter.
JCJC took its first lead of the night at 40-39 with 3:45 left in the first half when Zan Ratcliffe made a layup. Lofton's two free throws with 2:43 showing gave the Lady Bobcats the lead for good at 43-42. JCJC was up 49-46 at halftime.
The Lady Bobcats continued its solid play in the third quarter, taking a 70-57 lead with 3:18 showing on a Ratcliffe 3-pointer. JCJC led 72-62 entering the final period.
East Central cut the lead to seven points on three occasions, the final time being at 82-75 with 4:49 remaining on a Shadeja Brown layup.
But Lofton quickly answered with a 3-pointer at 4:19 and Hanah Lott scored off a Ratcliffe assist at 3:59 to give the Lady Bobcats an 87-75 cushion. The closest ECCC got after that was 89-81 with 1:35 left on two Alexia McDonald free throws.
Lott followed Lofton in the scoring column with 23 points and Ratcliffe added 12. Lott was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Myyah West came off the bench to grab eight rebounds. Lott and Ratcliffe each had four assists.
McDonald paced the Lady Warriors with 27 points. Miracle Rushing added 15 and Johnta' Hughes had 12. Rushing pulled down 14 rebounds, while McDonald had 12 boards.
The Lady Bobcats were 33-of-67 from the field (2-of-10 from 3-point range) for 49 percent. JCJC was 27-of-34 from the free throw line.
East Central was 28-of-70 from the floor (6-of-16 from 3-point range) for 40 percent. The Lady Warriors were just 22-of-39 from the foul line.
The Lady Bobcats outrebounded East Central, 53-35.
 JCJC hosts LSU-Eunice at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 in the final game before the Christmas holiday break.
East Central visits Northeast Mississippi on Thursday.

WOMEN
Monday's game
Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
Jones County 95, East Central 84
EAST CENTRAL (5-2, 1-1) – Alexia McDonald 27, Miracle Rushing 15, Johnta' Hughes 12, Shadeja Brown 8, Kalybriah Haskin 7, Bryona Stewart 6, Samantha Duncan 5, Richenda Crutcher 3, Jelisa Pearson 1, Courtney Harper 0, Latesia Davis 0, Shaima Wilson 0, Laterrica Jefferson 0.
JONES COUNTY (7-2, 2-0) – Tatyana Lofton 37, Hanah Lott 23, Zan Ratcliffe 12, Aliyah Bell 6, Kanisha Tharpe 6, Wendion Bibbins 5, Myyah West 4, Ashailee Brailey 2, Patrice Tate 0, Dana Brown 0, Anna Wilks 0, Hayle Lott 0, LaDaria Moody 0.
East Central              24  22  16  22 – 84
Jones County           21  28  23  23 – 95