Women's Basketball | 1/30/2018 12:06:00 AM
MERIDIAN –
Alexis Tolefree (Conway, Arkansas) scored 42 points to spark No. 5 Jones County Junior College to a 94-74 victory over Meridian Community College here Monday night at Graham Gymnasium.
It was the eighth straight win for Jones, improving the Lady Bobcats to 14-2 overall and 7-0 in the MACJC South Division.
Tolefree, an Ole Miss signee, was 16-of-22 from the floor, including seven 3-pointers, as JCJC pulled away in the fourth quarter.
MCC led 17-11 late in the first quarter and 17-16 after the opening period.
The Lady Eagles were up 28-27 in the second quarter when Tolefree hit a 3-pointer from the left corner, scored on a driving layup and drained a long 3-pointer from the left wing to give JCJC a 35-28 lead with 3:49 left in the first half.
The Lady Bobcats were up 47-44 at halftime.
MCC's Rokila Wallace scored to open the second half and make it 47-46, but that was as close as the Lady Eagles would get.
A Tolefree 3-pointer from the left wing with 5:31 showing gave JCJC its longest lead of the third quarter at 58-48. MCC closed the gap to 66-60 when Shannon Tate scored at the buzzer.
The Lady Eagles were within 70-64 when Tolefree made a 28-footer and followed that up with a 2-pointer to put Jones ahead 75-64 with 7:06 left.
ZaKyia Weathersby's (Collins) free throw with 1:08 to play gave Jones its longest lead of the game at 94-72. JCJC ended the game on a 24-10 run over the final 7:24.
After Tolefree's effort, Weathersby had 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Nique Cherry (Heidelberg) finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Camryn London (Birmingham, Alabama) had 10 points.
Mackenzie Thompson (East Rankin Academy) had 10 assists and 6 rebounds.
Qiayon Bailey led MCC with 21 points. Wallace added 19, Mallory Thompson had 16 and Tate finished with 10.
The Lady Eagles fall to 11-5 overall, 4-3 in division play.
JCJC will host Copiah-Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to open the second half of division play. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
Meridian entertains Pearl River on Thursday.
Monday's game
MERIDIAN
Graham Gymnasium
WOMEN
Jones County 94, Meridian 74
Jones County (14-2, 7-0) 16 31 19 28 – 94
Meridian (11-5, 4-3) 17 27 16 14 – 74
JONES COUNTY (94) –
Alexis Tolefree 42,
ZaKyia Weathersby 16,
Nique Cherry 12,
Camryn London 10,
K.K. Tassin 9,
Breonca Ducksworth 5,
Mackenzie Thompson 0,
Madison Bishop 0.
MERIDIAN (74) – Qiayon Bailey 21, Rokila Wallace 19, Mallory Thompson 16, Shannon Tate 10, Brenda Gulley 8.
