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Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Host East Central defeats Lady Bears, 76-69

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Tootie Rankin

Women's Basketball | 1/28/2019 10:58:00 PM

Despite the Lady Bears turning in one of their best offensive performances of the season, it all came down to free throws Monday night in Decatur as the East Central Lady Warriors captured a 76-69 MACJC South Division victory.
 
While both teams went 27-59 from the field (including 7-14 three pointers for the Lady Bears and 6-12 for East Central), the home team made 16 of 25 free throws to the Lady Bears' 8-14.
 
East Central took a 10-6 first quarter lead before a free throw and three pointer from Tootie Carter brought the Lady Bears even, 10-10, with 3:30 on the clock.
 
After East Central (13-3, 4-3) again went up by four, a jumper from Carter left the Lady Bears trailing 17-15 at the end of the first 10:00 of play.
 
East Central extended its lead to 26-18 with 7:32 left in the second quarter. The Lady Bears then scored 8 of 10 points to pull to within 28-26 with 2:19 left before halftime.
 
The teams traded baskets the remainder of the half before East Central took a 38-33 lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
A pair of Tootie Rankin free throws early in the third quarter started an 11-1 run by the Lady Bears (6-10, 1-6) to put them ahead 44-41 with 5:58 on the clock. East Central responded with a 10-0 run to regain the lead, 51-44, with 4:25 showing. East Central carried a 55-49 lead into the final quarter.
 
With 7:03 left in the fourth quarter, East Central led 65-55. A long-range jumper from Carter then provided the start on an 11-3 run by the Lady Bears to narrow their deficit to 68-66 with 3:05 still to play.
 
Unfortunately for the Lady Bears, East Central would go on to score 8 of the final 11 points of the game to secure the win.
 
"We competed tonight," said Lady Bears head coach Brent Harris. "We just had some turnovers at crucial points of the game."
 
"Tootie Carter and Tootie Rankin were strong offensively," Harris continued. "(And) I thought Alexus Marsh was very good for us on both ends (of the court)".
 
Carter and Rankin both scored 16 points for the Lady Bears.
 
Jariyah Covington scored 22 points to top the East Central offense.
 
The Lady Bears return home for their next game, hosting the Hinds Lady Bulldogs Thursday night at 5:30.
 
 
 
 
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