January 28, 2022
The East Central Community College Lady Warrior basketball dropped a low-scoring home contest January 27 to Southwest Mississippi, 44-39. The Lady Warriors made a heroic late-game push in the final minutes but came up just short in the MACCC matchup. ECCC fell to 7-8 overall and to 3-5 in conference play while the Lady Bears improved to 12-5, 7-1.
The game was knotted up 7-7 five minutes into the first half as the teams traded baskets, including some early three-pointers. 5-0 Southwest run closed out the first quarter as the Lady Warriors struggled to hang on to the basketball.
The roles seemed reversed in the second frame as Southwest had several empty trips down the floor due to turnovers. ECCC and Myeisha Scott (Jackson) capitalized on the extra possessions as the freshman forward scored three-straight layups to put the Lady Warriors on top, 13-12. That lead grew to as much as five, 19-14, later in the second quarter as ball-handling woes continued plague Southwest. The Lady Bears regained their footing and clawed back, but ECCC took a one-point, 19-18, lead into the half.
The third was back-and-forth as neither team could heat up from the floor, continuing the low-scoring affair. Early in the frame, ECCC's Wynter Taylor (Dallas, Texas) made a nice layup, followed by a three-pointer, to spark up some energy and gave ECCC the largest lead of the night, 24-18, but it was short-lived as the Lady Bears once again battled back. With 3:34 remaining in the third, Mirial Cannon (Madison) nailed a three-pointer, though the score was a big basket, it would prove the start of an 11-minute ECCC scoring drought.
Going into the fourth the game was tied at 29-29, but an 11-0 Southwest run, that lasted most of the fourth, put ECCC on its heels with just 2:44 remaining down 40-29. Just when the Lady Warriors seemed down-and-out, the ECCC offense sprung to life. A pair of quick-succession baskets from Sylvia Jones (Brighton, Tenn.) and Kaedre Denson (Philadelphia) pulled the game within seven, and after a quick steal, Cori Keats (Philadelphia) blew the roof off Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium with a corner three-pointer to pull the Lady Warriors within striking distance, 40-36. ECCC's full-court press was on display in the final minutes which forced several turnovers resulting in the Lady Warriors whittling the lead down to just two, 41-39, with 14 seconds to play. Unfortunately for ECCC, Southwest did their jobs at the free-throw line in the closing moments to hold off the late-game attack.
Scott continued her dominating play and grabbed her fourth double-double in the last six games with 10 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs for ECCC. Taylor finished the night with seven points and seven rebounds. Shylia McGee led Southwest with 17 points and 10 boards. Shooting troubles hindered both squads as ECC shot just 29 percent, while the Lady Bears posted a dismal 25 percent. Southwest outrebounded ECCC 46 to 40 but turned the ball over two more times, 25 to 23.
The Lady Warriors are back on the road this Monday, January 31, as the team travels to Wesson to take on the Co-Lin Lady Wolves (9-7, 3-4). Game time is set for 6 p.m. and fans can watch the game live at www.colinathletics.com/watch.
