POPLARVILLE –The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats posted an important MACJC South Division win here Monday night at M.R. White Coliseum.
JCJC trailed 69-67 with just over two minutes to play, but rallied to beat Pearl River Community College, 76-72.
The win gives JCJC a 13-6 overall record, 7-4 in the MACJC South Division.
The Lady Bobcats are now tied with Meridian for third place in the division. Southwest Mississippi lost to Mississippi Gulf Coast 49-47 on Monday and falls to fifth place at 6-5. The top four teams qualify for the MACJC State Tournament.
Co-Lin, 11-0, clinched the division with a 101-99 double overtime victory over East Central on Monday. ECCC is second at 8-3. Co-Lin will now serve as host of the state tournament, which will be held Feb. 23-26.
JCJC led 31-25 late in the first half, but PRCC tied the game at 36-36 at halftime.
The game was tied at 53-53 and 58-58 in the second half. The Lady Bobcats were down by two with just over two minutes left before outscoring PRCC 9-3 to get the victory.
Starla Daggans led JCJC with 21 points, while
Taylor Baudoin added 18,
Alyson Johnson had 11,
Jayda Simmons 10 and
Kadie Parker had 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Essence Pulliam had 22 points and 21 rebounds for the Lady Wildcats. Shaniqua Magee added 18 and Asia Thibodeaux had 13.
JCJC was 27-of-56 from the field, including 3-of-8 from the 3-point range, for 48.2 percent. They were 19-of-28 from the free throw line.
Pearl River was 28-of-72 from the floor, including 5-of-16 from 3-point range, for 39 percent. They were 11-of-18 from the free throw line.
PRCC outrebounded JCJC by a 56-24 margin, but the Lady Wildcats committed 18 turnovers, compared to 8 for the Lady Bobcats.
Pearl River falls to 7-10 overall, 3-8 in the division.
The Lady Bobcats travel to Meridian on Thursday. The game tips off at 5:30 p.m. JCJC's final home game will be on Monday, Feb. 16, at A.B. Howard Gymnasium vs. Southwest Mississippi.
Pearl River hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday.
Monday's gamePoplarvilleM.R. White ColiseumWOMENJones County 76, Pearl River 72JONES COUNTY (13-6, 7-4) –
Starla Daggans 21,
Taylor Baudoin 18,
Alyson Johnson 11,
Jayda Simmons 10,
Kadie Parker 9,
Terrica Williams 4,
Kristen Smith 3.
PEARL RIVER (7-10, 3-8) – Essence Pulliam 22, Shaniqua Magee 18, Asia Thibodeaux 13, Ka'Nosha Fairley 6, Akayla Powell 4, Jasmine Nettles 3, Vamikka Smith 3, Tamera Williams 3.
Jones County 36 40 – 76Pearl River 36 36 – 72
