By Staff
BREAKING AWAY – MCC's April McElroy, left and Silvo Harris apply pressure on defense to LSUE's A. Cormier. PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT/THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Thomas Burton / special to The Star
Dec. 1, 2002
Despite being down 37-43 at halftime the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles went on a 56 point scoring frenzy to win by the final score of 93-71 against LSU-Eunice.
Monique Horner led the charge scoring 25 second half points and knocking down three three-pointers. She finished the game with 35 points overall as the Lady Eagles(4-1) won the Rush Hospital Thanksgiving Classic Saturday night at the Ivy Sports Center.
The early game featured Alabama Southern coming out on top against Coahoma 87-66.
MCC and LSU-Eunice played very similar ball in the early going. The Bengals took there first lead 9-7 on a three-pointer by Kayla Edwards.
LSU-Eunice took advantage of the next five minutes by building an attack for a 12-4 run to lead 21-13. The Begals were sparked by strong defense from Ashley Cormier. She made four points and picked up a steal on the run scoring 12 points in the first half, finishing the game with 16.
Meridian couldn't make any noise as LSU-Eunice started a 12-6 run with 8:55 left in the half. S'omon Garrette added four points with Cormier adding four of her own. With exactly 5:00 left Kayla Edwards nailed a three-pointer to put LSU-Eunice ahead 39-23.
MCC showed some firepower by putting up a run of 14-4 to close out the half. Carmelita Naylor with 1:53 ripped the net for a three-pointer to bring MCC closer 41-37. Nikki Yarbrough follwed six points off three rebound. With the last coming at 40 seconds with Meridian still trailing 43-37 at halftime.
The Lady Eagles didn't slow down coming out in the second half scoring seven straight points. Horner hit a three-pointer to open things up with JaWanda Huggins making her presence felt by getting three quick points.
Huggins made a free throw to give MCC the lead 45-43. Huggins finished the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
LSU-Eunice battled back with some nice ball movement by Elizabeth Vallette to find Edwards for the score. Garrette made a jumper with 15:53 to give the Bengals the lead 49-45.
That was all LSU-Eunice wrote. Meridian's Horner set the court ablaze. She made another three-pointer with 15:10 to lead MCC on a 15-10 run scoring 10 points.
LSU-Eunice tried to stay afloat with back to back three-pointers. One by Stacy Hulin with 11:26 remaining keeping the game close trailing MCC 56-54.
That wasn't enough with Meridian's defense dominating the lanes and forcing the Panthers to shoot wide. The run helped MCC go up 65-59 with 8:33 in regulation.
Horner showed great hustle to lead another huge scoring drive of 15-5. She ended the drive with a three-pointer that was 10 feet behind the arc to give MCC a 82-64 lead with 3:21 left. Horner had five three-pointers on the night.
The Lady Eagles next game will be against East Mississippi on Monday, December 2 at 6 p.m. in the Ivy Sports Center.