Lady Lions let first-half lead slip away in 70-47 home loss to Meridian
The EMCC Lady Lions couldn't maintain a halftime advantage in dropping a 70-47 home decision to Meridian Community College during Thursday's MACCC basketball action played at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
SCOOBA -- The EMCC Lady Lions couldn't maintain a halftime advantage in dropping a 70-47 home decision to Meridian Community College during Thursday's MACCC basketball action played at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
The home-standing Lady Lions built a 27-19 halftime lead over Meridian by outscoring the visitors, 15-7, in the second quarter. The score was tied at 12-12 following the opening 10 minutes of play.
Meridian's second-half comeback was fueled by three-time MACCC Player of the Week Terica Smith, who scored 20 of her game-high 24 points after halftime. The sophomore post player out of West Point was limited to just one made field goal and two made free throws during the opening half before breaking out with five second-half baskets and converting all 10 free throw attempts following intermission.
The Lady Eagles were able to turn the tables by outscoring the Lady Lions, 23-4, in a third quarter that was capped by Ashlynn Stephens' buzzer-beating three-pointer. EMCC's lone points in the quarter came on a basket by Cenaya Calhoun-Jingles and Bailey Siddell's pair of free throws.
Despite a trio of made three-pointers by EMCC sophomore guard Dukiaha Jones in the fourth quarter, Meridian's double-digit lead (42-31) at the quarter break reached 20 points (62-42) late in the contest on Nataysia Willis' basket.
Jones led the Lady Lions with 16 points, including four three-point baskets, seven rebounds and three assists. Calhoun-Jingles followed with 11 points off the bench for EMCC.
Willis supplemented Smith's 24 points with 18 points of her own. Mia Washington and Jamariyah Hilton also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Meridian.
East Mississippi's basketball teams will be back in conference action on the road Tuesday (Jan. 27) against Jones College. The 5:30/7:30 p.m. hoops doubleheader at A.B. Howard Gymnasium in Ellisville was postponed a day due to this weekend's wintry weather forecast and the storm's possible lingering effects on Monday.
