Running On Empty: Lady Eagles run out of gas in tourney final

By Jeff Edwards / assistant sports editor
The Meridian Star

CLINTON — The Meridian Lady Eagles’ surprising run through the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament ran out of steam in the championship game against Copiah-Lincoln in a 67-60 loss Thursday night here at Mississippi College.

MCC had defeated state champion Northeast Mississippi and Jones in the first two rounds by winning the battle to every loose ball and fighting for rebounds.

However, in the championship game, the Co-Lin combination of Nikki Williams and Erica Trahan wore down the smaller Lady Eagles.

“There’s no question the first two games took its toll,” MCC coach Hilary Allen said. “Our legs weren’t as strong tonight, but that’s the tournament atmosphere.”

Co-Lin’s deliberate style of play might have been better suited to three games in three days, but Allen said a frenetic pace is the only style of play his team knows.

“If you’re asking if Co-Lin’s deliberate style of play is better suited for a championship game, that’s probably true,” Allen said. “But we got here by playing our style of play. It’s the way the kids want to play and we wouldn’t be here tonight (in the championship game) without it.”

Co-Lin led by as many as seven points in the first half before Meridian cut the score to 36-33 at halftime. MCC took its first lead of the game 2 minutes into the second half and seemed like they might pull away when Carla Latham hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Eagles up 47-43 with 12:55

remaining.

But MCC didn’t score over the next 5:55 and the Lady Wolves went on a 7-0 run to take a 50-47 lead with 7:15 remaining.

Co-Lin expanded its lead to 56-52 with 4:30 left before Latham rattled in a big 3 from the baseline to cut the lead to one.

MCC took a 57-56 lead when NaDosha Strickland found Jennifer Wair in the paint for a layup with 4:00 left.

However, Co-Lin’s Nikki Williams answered with two consecutive 3-pointers to give the Lady Wolves a lead they would not relinquish. Williams led all scorers with 29 points and drew the praise of Allen.

“Williams had a great performance,” Allen said. “Scoring 29 points in the championship game is outstanding on her part.”

Erica Trahan also had a big game for Co-Lin, scoring 14 points of her own and giving the Lady Eagles major problems in the paint.

“She gives us the most problems,” Allen said. “We don’t have a big inside presence and she’s just a moose inside. She’s a very strong inside player.”

Strickland led MCC with 17 points while point guard Holly Dial had 12. Latham chipped in with 11 and Anesia McBride talled 10 points.

Strickland and McBride were named to the Region 23 All-Tournament Team, and Allen praised Dial for her efforts.

“Holly Dial is the heart and soul of this team,” Allen said. “She’s our point guard and leader on the floor. The team goes as she goes. We have other players who are very talented but Holly made them better with her play. She’s a once in a lifetime player to coach.”