ELLISVILLE – In a battle of NJCAA Top 10 teams, No. 2 Shelton State (Alabama) came out on top here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Lady Bucs defeated No. 7 Jones College, 73-48.

The game was called with 2:13 remaining, after a 10-minute delay, when Bobcat forward Mackenzie Thomas (Laurel) was injured after a hard fall underneath the visitor basket. 
 
The loss snapped a 40-game home winning streak for Jones. The last time the Bobcats lost at Howard Gymnasium was 84-77 to Shelton State on Nov. 15, 2018.
 
On Monday, the Lady Bucs led 19-13 after the first quarter.

Jones went on a 12-4 run and took a 25-23 lead when Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) made a layup at the 5:02 mark. But the Lady Bucs outscored Jones 11-0 the remainder of the half and led 34-25 at halftime.
 
Arianna Patton's (Meridian) layup with 8:27 to play in the third quarter pulled the Bobcats within 34-29, but that would be as close as they would get.
 
Shelton State led 53-39 after the third quarter and took its largest lead at the end of the game.
 
Meloney Thames (Choctaw Central) led the Bobcats with 15 points and White added 14 points and five rebounds. Olivia Knight (Pearl) had nine points and four assists.
 
Nya Valentine topped the Lady Bucs with 23 points and eight assists and Asia Barclay added 18 points and nine rebounds. Jemeriah Moore had 12 points and seven rebounds and Mya Barnes had 15 rebounds, seven assists and six points.
 
The Bobcats made 19-of-51 shots for 37 percent, 3-of-13 from beyond the arc for 23 percent and 7-of-9 free throws for 78 percent. Shelton State hit 30-of-68 shots for 44 percent, 9-of-21 3-pointers for 43 percent and 4-of-4 free throws for 100 percent.
 
The Lady Bucs out-rebounded Jones, 50-21, and had 24 assists compared to eight for Jones. Shelton State had 18 turnovers and the Bobcats had 13.
 
Shelton State outscored Jones 21-6 in second chance points and 26-4 in bench points. The Bobcats had a 15-6 edge in fast break points.
 
The Bobcats, 11-3, return to MACCC play when they visit Mississippi Delta for a 6 p.m. game on Thursday. Jones also travels to Southwest for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.
 
Shelton State, 18-1 and winners of 17 straight, hosts Southern Union State (Alabama) on Thursday.