East Central Community College’s Lady Warriors improved to 4-1 following an easy 70-41 win over the Holmes Community College women Thursday night in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.

The Warriors were not as fortunate, as their come-back effort fell short in an 86-78 defeat to the visiting Bulldogs.

Danielle Cole of Philadelphia and Shantel Neely of Searcy, Ark., had 12 points each to lead the East Central women who swept their season series with Lady Bulldogs. EC posted an 82-74 decision in Goodman to begin the 2009-10 campaign.

Other Lady Warrior point makers were Sierra Croff, a product of Newton County High School, 11; Demetria Slocum of Starke, Fla., 10; Bianca Thomas of Sebastopol, six; Yolanda Jones of Lake and Alise Bryant of Northwest Rankin, four each; Hannah Lee of Leake Academy and Quentinette Odom of Scott Central, three each; Xeneobia Lavender of Noxapater and Shaneqyua Bufkin of Scott Central, two each; and Jakiala McWilliams of Neshoba Central, one. Odom was the top rebounder with 11.

Justinne McClain and Brittany Henry had seven points each to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who fell to 0-4. 

EC held a 32-16 advantage at halftime.

In the men’s contest, the Warriors trimmed a 19-point deficit to three points but could get no closer and their two-game win streak ended. EC, which fell to 2-3, also dropped the season opener to the Bulldogs by a 78-69 margin in Goodman.

Keondre Hodges of Newton had 13 points and five rebounds to lead East Central. Also scoring were Steve Edwards, also of Newton, 12; Aquill Baynard of Houston, Texas, 10; Antonio Grace of Newton and Kendall Jackson of Columbus, nine each; Joshua Carothers of Columbus, eight; Kenneth Thomas of Jackson Provine, four; Shelton Banks of Morton and Jonathan McLenden of Houston, Texas, two each. Baynard was the top rebounder with eight.  

Clyde Moore pumped in 26 points to lead Holmes, which evened improved to (fill in).

The visitors led 39-27 at the break.

ECCC squads battle Itawamba Community College Saturday afternoon. The women’s contest begins at 2 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 4 p.m. in the Brackeen Wood Physical Education Building.