East Central Community College’s Lady Warriors kept their post-season hopes alive by edging the Hinds Community College women 69-65 Monday night on the Utica campus.

With the win, EC improved to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in the MACJC South Division. The Lady Warriors are in fifth place and on the heels of Gulf Coast – EC’s visiting opponent Thursday night - at 4-6.

Nationally-ranked Copiah-Lincoln continues to lead the South with a perfect 10-0 mark, followed by Jones County (7-3) and Southwest (6-3). Hinds (2-7) and Pearl River (1-8) complete the standings.

The top four teams qualify for the MACJC State Tournament, scheduled Feb. 22-25 and hosted by the North Division women’s winner. Northwest currently leads the North with an 8-2 mark, followed by Mississippi Delta (7-2) and Itawamba (7-3).

Sophomore guard Danielle Cole of Philadelphia led East Central with 16 points.

Also scoring were Yolanda Jones of Lake, 14; Shantel Neely, a product of Searcy (Ark.) High School, 10; Demetria Slocum, of Bradford High School in Starke, Fla., nine; Hannah Lee of Leake Academy, six; Sierra Croff of Newton County and Bianca Thomas of Sebastopol, four each; and Jakiala McWilliams of Neshoba Central, and Shanequa Bufkin and Quentinette Odom, both of Scott Central, two each.

Kiana McCarty had 18 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who fell to 6-15 overall.

EC held a 46-35 advantage at halftime.

EC’s Warriors continue their downward slide, falling to the host Bulldogs by an 86-65 margin.

Jonathan McLenden, a 6-7 freshman forward from Alief Hastings High School in Houston, Texas, pumped in 20 points to lead the Warriors, who dropped to 5-15 and 1-8. 

Also scoring were Elijah Tanksley of Meridian and Keondre Hodges of Newton, 10 each; Kenneth Thomas of Jackson Provine, eight; Steve Edwards of Newton, seven; Antonio Grace, also a Newton  product, five; Kendrick McGee of Scott Central, three; and Jasper Bronson of Forest Hill, two.

Mark Wilkerson had 16 points to lead Hinds, which improved to 16-5 and 6-3.

The Bulldogs are currently third in the division, behind Jones County (8-2) and Pearl River (7-2). Gulf Coast is fourth (5-5), followed by Southwest (3-6), Copiah-Lincoln (3-7) and East Central.

Hinds led 37-26 at halftime.

The ECCC/Gulf Coast games begin with women’s action at 6 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.

The Lady Warriors and Warriors travel to Pearl River Monday night and host Jones County Thursday, Feb. 18, in the regular season finale.