LUBBOCK, Texas – A historic postseason run for the Jones College women's basketball team came to an end in the NJCAA Tournament Semifinals Sunday at the Rip Griffin Center.
The 23 seeded Bobcats fell to No. 3 Georgia Highlands, 81-74.
Jones ends the year 25-8 while the Chargers, winners of 30 consecutive games, will face Tyler JC in Monday's championship game.
Jones' memorable 10-game winning streak in the postseason included a conference championship, sixth straight region title and run to the NJCAA Final Four, something no Mississippi women's team has done since Co-Lin's 1989 Final Four run.
Missy Bilderback has taken Jones to all six of its NJCAA Tournaments -- six straight -- while running her seven-year coaching record to a remarkable 172-29 (.856) with the Bobcats.
In Sunday's game, Georgia Highlands closed the first half on a 15-4 run to take a double digit lead, 38-26, at the half.
Jones shot 48 percent against 32 percent for the Chargers, but turned it over 14 times versus four for GHC that led to 14 points off turnovers.
The Chargers led by a game-high 61-47 after three quarters before a final, late push from Jones.
After a
Jordan Clark three-pointer and
Olivia Knight three, the lead was down to 71-66 with 4:03 left to play.
Jones had multiple good looks to get even closer, but missed its next five shots and was held without a field goal the ensuing 3:16.
That final spurt was as close as the Bobcats would get, as GHC was able to salt it away at the free throw line.
Meloney Thames scored a game and career-high 28 points before fouling out with 41 seconds left.
Sakyia White added 18 points and 15 rebounds for her 18th double-double and set a new tournament record with 73 total rebounds. Knight added 13 points and Clark 11.
Three Chargers finished in double figures, led by 23 from Jashanti Simmons.