Shana Ward’s two free throws with 36.1 seconds left gave East Central Community College a five-point lead and the Lady Warriors held on to win by that margin in posting a 70-65 come-from-behind victory over East Mississippi Community College Saturday afternoon in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building on the Decatur campus.

With the non-division win, the EC women won their second straight contest and improved to 2-1 under sixth-year head coach Bill Smith.

The Lady Warriors, who trailed by as many as 11 points early but trimmed the deficit to 38-34 at halftime, were led by Ja’monica Orton who pumped in 26 points and was credited with 13 rebounds.  

Orton, a 6-1 freshman guard, is a product of Walter E. Stebbins High School in Dayton, Ohio.

Also scoring were Quentinette Odom of Scott Central, 18; Ward, a product of Carthage High School, 11; Shanequa Bufkin of Scott Central, six; Inessa Adams of Horn Lake, four; Alise Bryant of Northwest Rankin and Annie Brewer of Madison-Ridgeland Academy, two each; and Xenobia Lavender of Noxapater, one. 

Chasdity Hickman of Preston had 18 points to lead the Lady Lions, who fell to 0-2 on the young season. 

In the men’s game, EC’s Warriors registered their first season loss under fifth-year head coach Maurice Bowie in a 90-57 setback to the Lions. 

Chris McLendon, a 6-5 freshman forward from Morton, led the Warriors (2-1) with 13 points and six rebounds.

Other point makers were Curtis Loving, a product of Wadleigh High School in Harlem, N.Y., 12; Kenneth Barlow of Scott Central, 10; Thomas Straughter of Jackson Callaway, six; Keondre’ Hodges of Newton and Shelton Banks of Morton, four each; and Sharavus Wilson of Terry, Anthony Nieves of John F. Kennedy High School in Bronx, N.Y., Kegan Houston of Quitman and Jimmy Broomfield of Scott Central, two each. Hodges also had six rebounds and Loving was credited with five boards. 

Deonte Alexander, a product of Glencliff High School in Nashville and Joe McCoy of Raymond each had 18 points to lead the Lions who improved to 2-0. 

East Central trailed 40-25 at the break.

ECCC squads continue non-division action tonight (Monday) by hosting Itawamba Community College. Game times are 6 and 8 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.

The Lady Warriors and Warriors entertain Coahoma Community College Thursday, Nov. 11. Women’s action begins at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s contest at 8 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood gym.