By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 30, 2001
DECATUR Led by Nikki LaCour's career-high 42 points, the East Central Community College Lady Warriors posted an 81-71 MACJC South Division win over Mississippi Gulf Coast Thursday night.
It was a pretty sweet belated birthday present for the sophomore guard from Natchitoches, La., who turned 20 Tuesday.
The Lady Warriors improved to 6-1 with the win, handing Gulf Coast its first loss in the process.
The ECCC men lost a 95-76 contest to the Bulldogs to fall to 3-4.
ECCC returns to action here Monday against Mississippi Delta.
ECCC women 81
Gulf Coast 71
It didn't take long to realize the women's game was going to be physical and lengthy as the teams combined for 29 fouls in the first half.
Behind 17 points from LaCour, ECCC carried a 43-33 advantage into halftime.
With 11:31 remaining in the game, both teams were already in the double bonus. Before the night was done, the teams combined for 66 fouls and 89 free throws in the two-hour, seven-minute marathon.
Gulf Coast, 5-1, got to within 56-51 with just under 10 minutes left, but LaCour made four layups over a four-minute span as the Lady Warriors upped their lead back to 10 at 67-57.
Gulf Coast closed to within 70-69 on a pair of free throws from Kesha Carter with 2:33 remaining.
LaCour converted a three-point play with 2:05 to go for a 73-69 lead and Lori Cumberland drove the baseline for a layup 28 seconds later. The two sophomores combined for ECCC's last 11 points.
LaCour was 14-of-17 at the free-throw line after going 14-of-17 in two games last week.
Cumberland finished with nine points, while Eichelberger, Ashley Brown, and Christina Ford each scored eight.
Gulf Coast got 19 points from Monique Cowans, 15 from Myeisha Mingo, and nine from Mashika Davis.
Gulf Coast men 95
ECCC 76
Gulf Coast carried a 56-32 lead into halftime with 27 points coming from 3-point range. The Bulldogs finished the night with 11 3-pointers.
The Warriors closed to within 58-45 with a 13-2 run to start the second half only to have Gulf Coast pull back out to a 22-point advantage.
A jumper from the right wing by Clint Hatch pulled ECCC back to within 13 at 76-63 with 8:30 remaining, but the Bulldogs scored the next six points and were never threatened again.
ECCC got 17 points from James Denson, 13 from Winfred Craig, 12 from Demario Qualls, and nine from Donzel Crenshaw. Leading scorer Corey Hornsby did not dress out due to a knee injury.
Gulf Coast, 6-1, got 22 points apiece from Derrick Powe and Marquez Moultrie. Powe hit five 3-pointers in the first half.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.