ELLISVILLE – Trista Magee Whitman is a 20-game winner in her first season as a collegiate head coach.

Jones thumped Holmes, 77-55, in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament First Round on Thursday night for its first region tournament win since winning a seventh-straight region championship during the 2022-23 season.

The Bobcats, 20-8, travel to No. 3 seed Northwest, 20-8, on Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the region quarterfinals. 

On Thursday night against the Lady Bulldogs, Jones trailed 15-13 in the second quarter before putting together a 19-4 run to completely take control of the game.

Lamarah Cleaves' three-pointer put Jones ahead 16-15 to start the big run and she'd hit another three-ball minutes later to make it 23-19. 

Jones led 36-24 at half.

Jakera Ducksworth had 12 of her game-high 17 points in the second half and eight different Bobcats had at least one bucket the final two quarters.

Jones' largest lead was 26 with 8:50 left in the fourth.

Behind Ducksworth's 17, Cleaves had 12 points and nine boards, Khalee Harrison tied a career-high with 14 points, Sanyla Smith had 10 points, six assists and five steals and Larissa Hubbard chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds.

Holmes was led by Zion Harvey's 13.

Saturday's contest at Northwest will be streamed at nwccrangers.com/watch. Admission is free.