Freshman guard Deidra Hawkins poured in 24 points and led East Central Community College’s women to a 77-62 thumping of Northwest Mississippi Community College Saturday afternoon in a non-division matchup held in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building on the Decatur campus.

With the win, EC’s Lady Warriors improved to 7-8 overall under sixth-year head coach Bill Smith.

In addition to Hawkins – who hails from Dermott (Ark.) High School, other EC scorers were Ja’Monica Orton, a product of Walter E. Stebbins High School in Dayton, Ohio, 12; Shana Ward of Carthage, nine; Kurlysha Bell of Kosciusko and Quentinette Odom of Scott Central, eight each; Inessa Adams of Horn Lake, Bianca Thomas of Sebastopol and Annie Brewer of Madison-Ridgeland Academy, four each; and Xenobia Lavender of Noxapater and Shanequa Bufkin of Scott Central, two each. Orton was the top rebounder with eight boards.

The Lady Warriors made 31 of 62 field goals (50 percent), two of seven three-point shots (28.6 percent) and 13 of 17 free throws (76.5 percent).

Sandricka Bowen of Holly Springs had 17 points to lead the Lady Rangers, who fell to 5-9.

EC held a 42-29 advantage at halftime.

In the men’s contest, A. J. Cunningham of Northwest drained a three-pointer with 1:05 remaining to snap a 62-62 tie and the Rangers held on for a 66-62 decision.  

Sophomore guard Kenneth Barlow of Scott Central pumped in 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead EC, which dropped to 8-7 under fifth-year head coach Maurice Bowie.

Other Warrior point makers were Bilal Kelley, a product of Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia, PA, and Shelton Banks of Morton, eight each; Curtis Loving of Wadleigh High School in Harlem, NY, and Glenn Thomas of Loyd Star, seven each; Keondre Hodges of Newton, six; Kegan Houston of Quitman, four; and Sharvarus Wilson of Terry, three.

The Warriors connected on 24 of 63 field goals (38.1 percent), three of 14 treys (21.4 percent) and six of 12 free throws (52.4 percent).

Cunningham, a product of Cordova High School in Memphis, had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Northwest, which improved to 7-8.

EC trailed 28-26 at the break.

ECCC squads return to MACJC South Division action tonight (Monday) by traveling to Pearl River Community College. Game times are 5 and 7 p.m. on the Poplarville campus.

The Lady Warriors and Warriors host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Thursday, Jan. 27. Women’s action begins at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s contest at 8 p.m. in Brackeen-Wood.