November 8, 2022

The Lady Warriors of East Central Community College fell to 1-1 on the year on Monday night, Nov. 7, with a 68-61 loss to Northeast Mississippi Community College. 

The contest had a slow start for East Central as the Lady Tigers of NEMCC pulled out to a nine-point, 13-4, lead late in the first quarter. The Lady Warriors battled in the final minutes of the frame and capitalized on some key trips to the free throw line with Kennedee Shelton and Angela Middleton rattling home some freebies. Between the trips to the stripe, ECCC's Leilaya McMillian nailed a three-pointer. The quick turnaround cut the Lady Tiger lead to just two, 16-14, at the end of the frame.

In the second the action was back and forth with the Lady Warriors taking their first lead of the night, 20-19, at the six-minute mark. The lead came on a second-chance layup from Mady Buckley. The Lady Warrior Lead was short-lived as the Lady Tigers responded with a scoring burst that NEMCC on top 33-26 going into the half.

The game ground to a halt in the third quarter as fouls mounted for both teams. The free throw battle swung in both directions with the Lady Tigers growing their lead to as much as 10, 51-41, before a 7-0 ECCC run closed out the quarter with the Lady Tigers on top by just three, 51-38.

The scoring run continued in the fourth quarter and the Lady Warriors took their second lead of the night, 52-51, in the opening minutes of the final frame on a Middleton layup. The Lady Tigers hit back with a three-pointer and despite some solid play down the stretch with baskets from Kaedre Denson and a three-pointer from Cori Keats, the Lady Warriors were not able to come back and lost, 68-61. 

The Lady Warriors finished the night shooting 28 percent (17-of-60) and 20 percent from three-point range (4-of-20), but were 77 percent from the free throw line, making 23-of-30 attempts. ECCC also outrebounded NEMCC by two, 46-44, but turned the ball over 22 times on the night. 

Shelton led the Lady Warriors with 24 points, while McMillian added nine. Middleton and Denson came off the bench to score eight each. Denson also led the team in rebounding with 12 on the night and five blocks.

The Lady Warriors are on the road this Thursday, Nov. 10, as the team travels to Utica to take on the Hinds Lady Bulldogs at 6 p.m. More information will be released when it is available.