Haynes' big second half leads MCC past EMCC

By Daniel Rigdon / Sports Writer
The Meridian Star

CLINTON — Norianna Haynes may have played her worst 20 minutes of basketball of the season in the first half of Meridian's semifinal matchup Wednesday. Fortunately for MCC, Haynes played a perfect second half, while scoring 11 of her game-high 31 points in overtime and the Eagles knocked off East Mississippi 80-72 in overtime at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum.

“Norianna is a super player,” said MCC coach Hilary Allen. “She didn't have a good first half at all, but we talked about it at halftime and she came out and played phenomenal in the second half and overtime.”

While Haynes was settling into her offensive groove, the same could not be said for the EMCC women in the extra period. The Lions mustered only one point through the first 3:30 of the five minute overtime session.

East Mississippi led by five points with 35 seconds left in regulation, but could not hold on as Meridian started doing what it does best. That being shooting the trey.

Haynes faked a drive and stepped back to drain 3-pointer to cut the lead to two points with 30 seconds left and Jasmine Anderson played the hero connecting from the top of the key with 6.6 seconds left to send the contest into overtime.

“We never give up,” added Allen. “We played hard and even though we were down with not a lot of time left we fought back.”

The Lions looked to be control early in the first half leading almost the whole 20 minutes as it saw its lead grow to as many as nine points.

A furious Eagle run to end the half cut the EMCC lead down to three points at 38-35.

MCC got 16 points from Chasity Kearney, while point guard Bianca Powell ended the night with 10.

East Mississippi got a team-high 13 points from Kiara Quinones-Noa, while Chadisty Hickman and Natalie Tate each added 12 points in the loss. RoTasha Windom, former Kemper County standout, had six points and 20 rebounds.

Meridian, which up its record to 27-5 on the year, will now move on to take on No. 13 Co-Lin in the Region 23 championship tonight at 6 p.m.

The Lions end their season with a record of 15-10.