CLINTON – Jones County Junior College was playing for its first-ever berth in the NJCAA Division I Women's National Tournament in the Region 23 Tournament finals Saturday night.
But it was not meant to be.
Itawamba never trailed as the Lady Indians defeated the Lady Bobcats 84-64 here at the A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.
JCJC ends the season at 19-8.
The Lady Indians will now advance for the second time in three years to the national tournament in Salina, Kansas, on March 16-21.
The Lady Bobcats got off to a slow start and never recovered.
ICC led 4-0 just over a minute into the game and took a 9-2 lead with 15:26 left in the first half when Kaelin Kneeland converted a 3-point play. A 3-pointer by JCJC's
Alyson Johnson made it 18-11 with 10:24 showing in the first half.
JCJC continued to struggle to score and Itawamba took its longest lead of the first half at 35-16 with 1:04 left when Raylin Starks scored on an offensive rebound. Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 37 seconds to play to make it 35-19, but ICC's Jayla Chills scored with 12 seconds showing and the Lady Indians took a 37-19 halftime lead.
JCJC was only 7-of-27 from the floor in the first half for 26 percent.
The Lady Indians took a 45-24 lead with 18:00 left when Jeronia Allen made a 10-footer.
The Lady Bobcats went on a 16-8 run and cut the lead to 53-40 with 13:35 left when
Hayley Pichon scored on a putback. But that would be as close as JCJC would get.
ICC stretched the lead to 68-46 with 7:33 left when Lanikki McMillian hit an 18-footer. A
Jayda Simmons' basket trimmed the margin to 68-52 with 5:53 to play.
The Lady Indians would then take its longest lead of the evening at 77-54 with 3:21 to play on a layup by Kneeland.
Taylor Baudoin paced the Lady Bobcats with 19 points, while
Starla Daggans added 10. Pichon led JCJC with 9 rebounds, while Baudoin had 6.
Kneeland had 21 points and 10 rebounds for ICC. Chills had 18 points, Allen finished with 16 and Alontra Tucker had 13. Ricki Hooker had 9 rebounds and Chills had 5 assists.
JCJC improved its shooting in the second half and finished the game 26-of-67 from the floor for 39 percent. They were 4-of-14 from 3-point range and just 8-of-16 from the free throw line.
The Lady Indians were 31-of-79 from the field for 39 percent. They were 3-of-9 from the 3-point line, but converted 19-of-24 free throws.
ICC outrebounded Jones 44-34 and the Lady Indians committed 13 turnovers, compared to 20 for JCJC.
Region 23 Tournament
WOMENSaturday's gameChampionshipItawamba 84, Jones County 64JONES COUNTY (19-8) –
Taylor Baudoin 19,
Starla Daggans 10,
Jayda Simmons 9,
Alyson Johnson 7,
Hayley Pichon 6,
Aliyah Bell 5,
Kadie Parker 4,
Terrica Williams 4,
Kristen Smith 0,
Mallory Odom 0.
ITAWAMBA (23-4) – Kaelin Kneeland 21, Jayla Chills 18, Jeronia Allen 16, Alontra Tucker 13, Ieshya Mays 6, Lanikki McMillian 4, Ricki Hooker 2, Treasure Evans 2, Raylin Starks 2.
Jones County 19 45 – 64Itawamba 37 47 – 84 Notes: Itawamba never trailed in claiming the Region 23 Tournament title. They led by as many as 19 in the first half (35-16) and 23 in the second half (77-54). JCJC ends the season with a 19-8 record. Itawamba will advance to the NJCAA Division I Women's Tournament March 16-21 in Salina, Kansas. It will be ICC's second appearance in the past three years in the national tournament. JCJC's Starla Daggans and Taylor Baudoin were named to the Region 23 All-Tournament Team. Holmes won the men's Region 23 Tournament crown with a 92-87 overtime victory over Pearl River. Region 23 Tournament
At ClintonMississippi CollegeA.E. Wood ColiseumWOMENThursday's resultsItawamba 90, East Central 85
Co-Lin 69, Holmes 68
Northwest Mississippi 77, Meridian 75
Jones County 91, Baton Rouge CC (LA) 62
Friday's resultsItawamba 82, Co-Lin 75
Jones County 94, Northwest Mississippi 68
Saturday's resultChampionship, Itawamba 84, Jones County 64. Itawamba advances to NJCAA Division I Women's National Tournament March 16-21 in Salina, Kansas.
MENWednesday's resultsHolmes 78, Northeast Mississippi 68
East Central 67, Jones County 64
Pearl River 68, Baton Rouge Community College (LA), 67
East Mississippi 78, Southern-Shreveport (LA) 60
Friday's resultsHolmes 73, East Central 64
Pearl River 67, East Mississippi 62
Saturday's resultChampionship, Holmes 92, Pearl River 87 (OT). Holmes advances to NJCAA Division I Men's National Tournament March 16-21 Hutchinson, Kansas.
