ELLISVILLE – Tatyana Lofton likes playing against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Lofton made two free throws with .1 second left to lift Jones County Junior College to a 64-62 victory over MGCCC here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
On Dec. 3, Lofton hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining to give the Lady Bobcats a 58-57 win at Perkinston.
JCJC is now 14-3 overall and 7-1 in the MACJC South Division. The Lady Bobcats and East Central are tied for first place in the division and they will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Decatur.
The Lady Bobcats never trailed and were in control for most of the game.
JCJC jumped out to a 7-0 lead and went up 19-4 with 2:20 left in the first quarter when Wendion Bibbins scored. The Lady Bobcats were up 19-7 after the first quarter.
Myyah West scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to give Jones a 23-7 lead with 7:57 showing. MGCCC then rallied and got within 30-24 with 1:50 left in the first half when Ka'Nosha Fairley made a 3-pointer.
JCJC's Aliyah Bell scored with 1:21 showing to give the Lady Bobcats a 32-24 lead going into halftime.
The Lady Bobcats regained the momentum in the third quarter.
JCJC took its longest lead of the night at 50-32 with 2:29 showing when Kanisha Tharpe score off a Lofton assist. The Lady Bobcats would lead 52-39 after three quarters.
But the Lady Bulldogs went on a 17-4 run to start the final quarter and tied the contest at 56-56 with 3:59 left when Kailin Young made a free throw.
JCJC then scored six straight points and took a 62-56 lead with 2:48 to play when West made two free throws.
However, MGCCC then answered with six straight points and tied the game at 62-62 with 47.2 seconds left when Watson hit an 18-footer.
The Lady Bobcats would then turn the ball over, but MGCCC would turn it right back over to JCJC.
After a timeout, JCJC set up the game-winning play. Lofton drove into the lane, drew the foul and converted both free throws.
MGCCC then called time and would throw the ball in from mid-court. They tried to get the ball to Watson inside, but the ball was knocked away and the game ended.
West had another solid game for JCJC with 18 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. Lofton had 13 points, five steals and four assists. Zan Ratcliffe also had four assists.
Watson led Mississippi Gulf Coast with 20 points – all in the second half. Fairley added 15 points – all on 3-pointers.
The Lady Bobcats were 26-of-63 from the field (3-of-14 from 3-point range) for 41 percent. They were 9-of-11 from the free throw line.
MGCCC was 24-of-51 from the floor (8-of-13 from 3-point range) for 47 percent. They were 6-of-12 from the foul line.
JCJC outrebounded MGCCC, 34-27. The Lady Bobcats committed 18 turnovers, while the Lady Bulldogs committed 19.
Mississippi Gulf Coast falls to 9-8 overall and 1-7 in the division. The Lady Bulldogs host Meridian on Monday.
 
 
WOMEN
Thursday's game
Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
Jones County 64, Mississippi Gulf Coast 62
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (9-8, 1-7) – Markeisha Watson 20, Ka'Nosha Fairley 15, Kamisha Tarvin 9, Courtney White 8, Hayley Pichon 4, Shaniqua Tobias 3, Kimberly Calhoun 2, Kailin Young 1, Whitney Williams 0, Raven Thompson 0, Tiana Dampeer 0.
JONES COUNTY (14-3, 7-1) – Myyah West 18, Tatyana Lofton 13, Hanah Lott 9, Wendion Bibbins 8, Aliyah Bell 8, Ashailee Brailey 4, Kanisha Tharpe 2, Zan Ratcliffe 2, Patrice Tate 0, Anna Wilks 0.
Mississippi Gulf Coast        7  17 15 23 – 62
Jones County                      19 13 20 12 – 64