FULTON — Despite putting together a strong performance for nearly all of Thursday's conference road contest at Itawamba, struggles in the final three minutes of the game hurt the Lady Bears as they fell to the Lady Indians 61-51.
 
"We didn't execute great, and I didn't call the best sets," Southwest head coach Brent Harris said, referring to the final 3:00 of play. "We had some decent half-court stands a few plays didn't go our way, the ball didn't bounce right."
 
The Lady Bears (14-10, 4-7 MACCC) jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage on a 3-pointer from Mookie Lampley and a basket by Kara Beth Addison. But the Lady Indians climbed back into the contest and took a 12-8 advantage before a 5-0 Southwest run to close the first quarter put the visitors up 13-12.
 
After losing, then quickly regaining the lead, Southwest held onto it for the next 8:00. Despite this, the Lady Bears kept fighting and finished the quarter, yet again with another one-point advantage leading 29-28.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle. There were a total of six lead changes and two ties, the latter of the two came as the quarter closed with the score even at 39.

In fourth, the Lady Bears built a six-point lead thanks to stellar play from Gracie Miller and Bethany Graves. But Southwest watched its lead drop to just one before an Addison basket made the score 51-48.

Afterward, Southwest went cold and Itawamba not only got into rhythm but, unfortunately, pulled away before sealing the win.

Graves led the Lady Bears with 14 points while Lampley posted 11 and Addison 10.

Southwest will be back home on Monday at 5:30 p.m. hosting Meridian.