Lady Eagles play close with top ranked Trinity Valley, Eagles stay undefeated

Meridian Community College women’s basketball coach Hilary Allen got exactly what he wanted, a stern non-conference early season test for his Lady Eagles.

That test came in the form of undefeated, top-ranked Trinity Valley (TX) Community College.

"From day one all the way back in preseason conditioning we've been using this game with the top ranked team as motivation," said Allen.

Trinity Valley brought in a 2-0 record along with five national championships into MCC's Graham Gymnasium Wednesday night to see if Meridian's 103-25 embarrassment of Delgado last Saturday was legitimate.

The visiting Lady Cardinals set the pace early grabbing a 20-14 lead at the midway thru the first half.

But MCC's trio of Monique Clayton, Zircona Hopkins and Nadosha Strickland used their athletic ability to put points on the board and get to the free throw line. Behind their play, MCC tied up the ballgame multiple times in the first period before eventually taking the lead with 5:25 left before half.

MCC was led by Strickland who scored 18 points in the first half to give the Lady Eagles a 38-35 halftime lead over Trinity Valley.

"They exposed some of our weaknesses and we had to ask Nadsoha to do some things that she's not accustomed to doing," said Allen.

"Being the outstanding player that she is, she stepped up for us."

Apparently it took the visiting Lady Cards one half of basketball to get over their five and a half hour bus ride from East Texas and regain their top ranked form. Trinity Valley went on a 28-13 run to start the second half and take a 63-51 lead over Meridian with 10:00 remaining in the game.

"They are a national championship caliber team so you know they're going to make a run," said Allen.

MCC would put up a 12-0 run of their own and give the packed gym a reason to cheer as the Lady Eagles tied it up at 63-63 with under 5:00 to play.

"It showed me something about us to be able to answer their run," said Allen.

But the excitement would last but for a moment as Trinity Valley would hit three consecutive three point baskets to put the game away and win 78-69 over MCC.

"We played with the best team in the nation for 36 minutes, not 40, but 36," said Allen.

The Lady Eagles were led by Strickland who scored a game high 31 points. Hopkins had 10 points and Tiara Parker added 8 for MCC.

DeShawna Banks led Trinity Valley with 24 points as the Lady Cards improved to 3-0 and now venture to Florida.

The Lady Eagles fell to 1-1 and travel to Scooba to face East Mississippi on Monday night.

MCC Men 79
Wallace-Selma 78

Following their 79-78 victory over Delgado last Saturday, the MCC men took on Wallace-Selma Wednesday night.

The Eagles fell behind 18-7 early in the first half but fought back to take a 36-31 lead at halftime behind the play of Otis Williams who led MCC with 14 points in the first half.

MCC won the game by a final of 78-62 and improved to 2-0.

Williams led the Eagles with 26 points, while Jason Windom scored 16 points and Regis Huddleston had 15 points.

MCC will be in action again Saturday when they host Marion (AL) Institute.