In Tuesday's start to MACCC Conference play, the No. 11 Pearl River Wildcats provided a tough test for the Lady Bears. Despite the challenge presented, the Lady Bears played their hearts out but could not overcome an early goal by the visitors, falling 1-0.
 
After the match, Southwest head coach Nicole Cooper said that she was proud of the way that her team performed adding that it was an improvement compared to last season's game against the Lady Wildcats in which the Lady Bears fell 4-1.

"We talk about taking away our positives and getting better year-to-year is definitely an objective for our program," she said. "I think that we have accomplished that, and we just have to find the back of the net."
 
The Lady Bears (3-2-2) came out looking to light up their side of the scoreboard first. But it was the Lady Wildcats who did so first scoring a goal in the 13^th minute putting Southwest down 1-0.
 
As the match continued, the Lady Bears ramped-up their play, looking for the equalizer and would come close on multiple occasions in the process but could not put the ball in the net as Pearl River held on for the win.
 
Southwest will have its first road conference test on Friday as it travels to Perkinston to face Mississippi Gulf Coast at 5 p.m.