DECATUR – Destiny Haymer netted a season-high 20 and LaMiracle Sims pumped in her sixth double-double of the year as Jones picked up a gritty, 72-68 road win Thursday night over East Central at Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium. 

JC, ranked 11th in the NJCAA, improved to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in south division play. EC fell to 6-7 and 1-3 in the south.

Neither team led by more than five the entire night and the game was knotted 30-30 at half.

Haymer put the Bobcats on her back in the second half, scoring 14 of her 20 points, and got strong supporting efforts from Jatyjia Jones and Sims who added seven apiece.

After going 0-for-11 from downtown in the first half and shooting 29 percent overall, Jones and Haymer combined to hit five, key 3-pointers in the second half.

Jariyah Covington scored a game-high 23 points for EC and KeiMoya Walker added 10-10 as the Lady Warriors matched JC punch for punch the full 40 minutes.

EC outshot Jones 40 to 33 percent from the floor, but the Bobcats outrebounded the Lady Warriors by 25 and pulled down 28 offensive rebounds which was a major difference in the game.

All nine Bobcats who touched the floor had a field goal. Haymer added nine rebounds and five assists in addition to her 20 points, Sims finished with 14-14, Jones added 11 points and Chyna Allen dished out seven of JC's 24 assists. 

Jones will host Southwest (10-3, 3-1 south) on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and the game will be carried on  JCJC.TV.