By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
Jan. 27, 2002
The nets at the Ivy Sports Center got quite a workout on Saturday afternoon. The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles resumed their high-scoring ways by blistering Southern of Shreveport 112-94.
The game marked the third straight time Coach Hilary Allen's team has hit the 100-point mark. The 112 points marks a season high for the MCC women who improve to 20-1 on the season and 2-0 inside Miss-Lou Conference action.
Southern of Shreveport came back to claim the mens game with an 84-77 decision.
MCC Women 112
Southern-Shreveport 94
The first three minutes of action gave an early indication that the nets and the Ivy Center scoreboard would be busy. Six three-pointers were hit in the opening stretch and both teams were off to the races.
In the first half, Shreveport appeared equal to the challenge. They erased a 10-point deficit with a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 43-41. Six free throws and a three-pointer by Detra Ashley helped the Lady Jaguars grab the lead.
MCC came right back. Ericka Starks, Tijwana Collins and Felicia Washington all scored to put the Lady Eagles back in front at 47-43.
Following a Southern basket, MCC went on a key 13-0 run to take command of the game. Genice Terry had the hot hand hitting a pair of three-pointers to go with a 12-footer from the baseline. The run made it 60-45. The half ended with MCC up 62-47.
The second half started like the first half ended, with MCC sprinting out to a 68-51 lead following consecutive baskets by Washington.
Southern answered with a 13-5 spurt to pull back to within nine at 73-64 after a three-pointer by Tytesha Brown.
The lead would bounce around the 9-to-11 point range until Southern started to tire near the 11-minute mark. The fatigue led to fouls and MCC began to sink free throws.
The Lady Eagles dropped in 10 of 11 from the line to blow the game open at 99-76 with eight minutes to play. A layup by Eva Lockhart put MCC over the 100-mark with 7:30 to play.
Reserves Tiffany Portis and Monicka Fresby combined to lift the Lady Eagles over the 110-point barrier in the waining minutes.
Six Lady Eagles finished in double figures. Terry led the way with 22 points. Washington had an impressive double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Monique Horner chipped in 15 points while Cantea Brown and Tijwana Collins had 14 apiece. Starks chipped in 13 off the bench.
Southern-Shreveport received 16 from Detra Ashley and 14 from Sharon Brown and 13 from Tytesha Brown. The Lady Jaguars fall to 8-12 with the loss.
Southern-Shreveport Men 84
MCC Men 77
With the game on the line, the Meridian Community College Eagles could not come up with the key defensive stop against Southern of Shreveport.
MCC appeared to be in good shape when Sammie Cole drained a three-pointer with 6:47 left to put up the Eagles up 65-61.
But Southern answered with consecutive three-point plays by Ricky Evans and Lynn Armstrong to reclaim the lead at 67-65 with 5:56 left.
MCC would get back to within one at 68-67 following two free throws by Tavares Childs. The Jaguars, however, would find a way to beat the Eagles to the base-line resulting in either a basket, a foul or both.
Evans' scored his second bucket and foul with 3:24 to play. His made free throw made it 74-69 and MCC was unable to mount another challenge.
Armstrong led the Jaguars with 20 points. Marcus Jackson and Kevin Taylor each hadn 18 while Eavns had 17. All 18 of Taylor's points came on six made three-pointers.
MCC was led by Childs' 15 points. Cole had 14 followed by Derrick Houston with 13, Robert Ivy with 12 and Michael Monroe had 10.
The Eagles trailed by 12 at 27-15 midway through the first half. MCC went on a 15-2 run to go up for the first time at 30-29. It was 36-35 at the half after Houston hit a pair of free throws.
On Monday night, MCC heads to Ellisville to battle Jones Junior College.