MERIDIAN – Jones County Junior College used another strong defensive effort to gain its 10^th straight victory on Tuesday night.
JCJC limited Meridian Community College to 27 percent shooting from the floor and posted a 58-45 decision over the Lady Eagles here at Graham Gymnasium.
The Lady Bobcats are now 12-2 overall and are in sole possession of first place in the MACJC South Division at 5-0.
Hanah Lott paced JCJC with 18 points and four assists, while Myyah West had 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Wendion Bibbins had 10 rebounds to go with five points.
The Lady Bobcats were 24-of-71 from the floor (2-of-14 from 3-point range) for 34 percent. JCJC was 8-of-13 from the free throw line.
Meridian was only 17-of-64 from the field (2-of-15 from 3-point range) for 27 percent. MCC was 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
The Lady Bobcats outrebounded Meridian, 48-35.
JCJC led 10-6 midway through the first quarter and then went on a 14-4 run to take a 24-10 lead on Kanisha Tharpe's 3-point play with 7:08 left in the first half.
Lott's 3-pointer with :02 left in the first half put JCJC ahead 36-20 at halftime. It was the largest lead of the game for the Lady Bobcats.
Meridian fought back in the third quarter and cut the lead to 40-34 with 5:03 showing on an Andriel Moss basket. But West converted a 3-point play off an offensive rebound to give Jones a 43-34 lead with 4:40 left.
MCC then rallied to within 43-38 with 2:49 showing on a pair of free throws by Kashari Gordon. But that was as close as the Lady Eagles would get.
Bibbins then scored back-to-back baskets to give JCJC a 47-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bobcats went up 57-44 with 3:35 left on a West basket. JCJC limited the Lady Eagles to just seven points in the final quarter.
Moss led Meridian, 2-12 overall and 1-4 in division play with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Maia McCullum added 11 points.
The Lady Bobcats will host Southwest Mississippi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at A.B. Howard Gymnasium. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
 The Lady Bears fell to 4-1 in the division with an 80-67 overtime loss to Copiah-Lincoln on Tuesday.
Meridian travels to Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday.
 
WOMEN
Tuesday's game
Meridian
At Graham Gymnasium
Jones County 58, Meridian 45
JONES COUNTY (12-2, 5-0) – Hanah Lott 18, Myyah West 11, Kanisha Tharpe 7, Tatyana Lofton 7, Wendion Bibbins 5, Zan Ratcliffe 5, Patrice Tate 2, Aliyah Bell 2, Anna Wilks 1, Ashailee Brailey 0.
MERIDIAN (2-12, 1-4) – Andriel Moss 14, Maia McCullum 11, Kashari Gordon 9, LaShonda Cousin 5, Andrianna James 4, Nelundra Moore 2, Trieshia Jackson 0, Jocelyn Peters 0, Halethe Jones 0, Roshonae Rice 0.
 
Jones County         17 19 11 11 – 58
Meridian                   8  12 18   7 – 45