By Staff
SCOOBA COLLISION – Meridian Community College's JaWanda Huggins (30) tries to steal control away from East Mississippi Community College's Dorecious Powe (42). Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Jan. 7, 2003
SCOOBA After struggling to make shots in the first half, the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles opened the the second half with a strong surge to bury East Mississippi on its own floor Monday night.
The MCC women hit six of its eight, three-pointers in the second half to turn a two-point deficit into a going away 80-59 victory here at the Keyes Currie Coliseum. The win in Meridian's first game back since the Christmas break, lifts Coach Hilary Allen's team to 9-2 record.
Allen was elated to see his team respond in the second half after trailing the bigger Lady Lions 27-25 at the half. The 7-0 run to open the second stanza was the key.
East Mississippi, now 5-8, pulled back to within three following a basket by Yolanda Thomas. EMCC had a chance to get even closer when Cedra Glover had a two-shot foul but she missed both.
The Lady Eagles would then make EMCC pay. Stephanie Mosley, formerly of Meridian High, launched a successful three-pointer and after a steal, Chelse' Alford hit one of her own to make it 39-30, MCC.
Mosley added a second, three-pointer at the 14:30 mark to put MCC up 10 at 44-34. Alford then notched a two-point basket which was followed by a three-pointer from Carmelita Naylor that made it 49-35. The four treys in this four-minute span finished off the Lady Lions.
Allen, though, feels the Lady Lions offered a quality opponent for his team as it readies to re-enter Mississippi Community College South Division play on Thursday at Jones CC.
The Lady Lions got back to within 10 at 51-41 but MCC responded by making plays to extend the lead back out. A three-point play by JaWanda Huggins put MCC up 59-43 with 9:32 left.
Another trey by Alford made it a 19-point lead at 66-47. The basket was MCC's sixth trey of the half and the eighth for the game.
The final 21-point margin at 80-59 represented MCC's largest lead of the game.
Monique Horner led the way for MCC with a game high 24 points. The Southeast Lauderdale product made eight field goals, including two treys in the first half. She was also 6-of-7 from the line.
Alford chipped in 20 points while Huggins had 16 and Mosley seven.
Dorecious Powe led East Mississippi with 12 points. Glover and Thomas each had 10.
EMCC returns to action on Thursday at Gulf Coast.