POPLARVILLE – Jones College fought hard, but came up just short against 14th-ranked Pearl River.
 
The Bobcats were within seven points with just under four minutes remaining and dropped a 56-46 decision to the Wildcats here Thursday night at the Marvin R. White Coliseum.
 
Jones is now 5-18 overall, 2-9 in the MACCC. Pearl River improves to 22-2 and continues to lead the conference at 11-1.
 
The Bobcats were down 13-2 midway through the first quarter and trailed 19-6 at the end of the period. The Wildcats extended the lead to 27-11 with just under seven minutes to play in the second quarter and led 31-18 at halftime.
 
A 3-pointer by Shay Hunter (Neshoba Central) pulled Jones within 38-32 with 2:36 left in the third quarter. PRCC led 40-32 heading into the final period.
 
Larissa Hubbard's (Harrison Central) basket with 3:41 to play cut the Wildcat lead to 48-41. But PRCC outscored Jones 8-5 down the stretch to grab the win.
 
Hubbard led Jones with 12 points and nine rebounds. Zharia Leflore (Neshoba Central) had nine points and seven rebounds and Anna-Patrice Patterson (Bay Springs) came off the bench to grab seven rebounds.
 
Natasha Barnes had 17 points to lead Pearl River. Sydney Lewis had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Jazmine Jackson added 11 points.
 
Jones was 19-of-56 from the field for 34 percent, 5-of-19 from 3-point range for 26 percent and3-of-5 from the foul line for 60 percent. PRCC was 20-of-68 from the floor for 29 percent, 9-of-29 from beyond the arc for 31 percent and 7-of-9 from the free throw line for 78 percent. 
 
The Wildcats outrebounded Jones, 47-36. The Bobcats committed 24 turnovers compared to 15 for PRCC.
 
Jones will host Coahoma at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Pearl River travels to Mississippi Delta on Monday.