Despite improving play as the game wore on Monday night, the Lady Bears fell just short against a tough Northeast Mississippi team, losing 65-64.
After the game, Southwest head coach Brent Harris said that his team's endured struggles early on in the contest.
"The beginning of the game is disappointing," Harris said. "That is where we got carved up, not getting in the stance and not defending the ball really well. I'm proud with how we finished. I don't think I would change a whole lot."
The Lady Bears (12-7, 2-4 MACCC) found themselves locked in a close battle with the Lady Tigers with neither team leading by more than two points through the first 6:14 of the game.
Not long afterward, however, struggles came for Southwest. The Lady Bears fell behind by seven but a Mady Smith make inched the hosts closer at the end of the first quarter as Southwest trailed 17-12 through the first 10:00 of play.
Northeast took its biggest lead of the night at eight just :13 into the second quarter following a 3-pointer but it was immediately answered on the other end by a 3 from Kara Beth Addison
Even though the Lady Tigers maintained their lead, the Lady Bears hung around and grabbed the lead back at the 2:15 mark in the second quarter on a make from Addison. But Northeast had the last laugh in the period taking a 32-31 lead into the locker room at the half.
Once again, Southwest took the lead in the early stages of the third quarter growing it by as much as four. That lead blossomed to six around the halfway point of the quarter following a 3-pointer by Gracie Miller with 5:35 to go making it a 45-39 game in favor of the hosts.
The lead grew to as much as seven but the Lady Tigers began battling back, slowly climbing back into the game before taking a 52-51 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bears got off to a bit of a slow start in the fourth as Northeast jumped out to a six-point advantage.
Northeast maintained its lead but Southwest wouldn't go away and rallied to pull within one at 65-64 with just under a minute to go.
Following a big stop on the defensive end, the Lady Bears had one final shot to try and win but they were unable to get the ball in the hoop giving the Lady Tigers the victory.
Mookie Lampley led Southwest with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. Addison recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Bears will be on the road Thursday as they travel to Poplarville to face Pearl River at 5:30 p.m.
