POPLARVILLE – A 13-2 run to end the first quarter for Pearl River was enough of a head start where Jones could never recover Thursday night in a 67-56 loss at Marvin R. White Coliseum.

Jones outscored the Wildcats by 14 in the second half but fell to 18-7, 7-5 MACCC. PRCC improved to 17-5, 10-1 in conference action.

The Bobcats will host Meridian Monday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. to close out the regular season home slate on First State Bank Night. 

Jones led twice in the opening quarter, 4-3, after a Jakera Ducksworth layup and 9-7 after four straight points from Lamarah Cleaves.

But Jones was held to one field goal the final 5:33 and trailed 20-11 after one.

The Wildcat lead ballooned to 44-19 at half.

Down 51-21 with 8:15 left in the third quarter, Jones scored 18 of the final 26 points, eight straight from Sanyla Smith and Khalee Harrison.

Smith hit a three-pointer to cut it to 17 early in the fourth and Jones would outscore PRCC 17-8 in the quarter to pull within 11 at the final horn.

Larissa Hubbard posted her eighth double-double with 16 points and 13 boards. Ducksworth had 13 points and nine rebounds, Smith 11 points and Harrison eight.

PRCC shot 50 percent against 36 percent shooting for Jones. The teams combined to go 6-for-40 from beyond the arc.

Jahanna Wilson led three Wildcats in double figures with 16 points.