MCC Basketball Splits Against Northeast Mississippi

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles opened the second half of its 2012-2013 schedule Monday night with a matchup against Northeast Mississippi Community College. The Lady Eagles started the new year off on the right note by taking a hard fought 69-55 victory over the Lady Tigers at Graham Gymnasium. Mcc improved to 10-5 overall with the home victory, while Northeast Mississippi fell to 5-6 with the road setback.

MCC started the game on a 10-0 run paced by the play of sophomore guard Reyada Stinner. The former Meridian High product scored five of the first ten points of the game for the Lady Eagles. Northeast Mississippi would not go away quietly in the contest, as the Lady Tigers clawed back to make the score 16-12 after a 10-2 run paced by a pair of buckets from LaTonya Gadison.

The two teams battled in a tight game for the remainder of the first half and MCC carried a 30-27 lead into the locker room. The Lady Eagles pulled away for good on a pair of three-point baskets by Gelese Lampton to build the MCC lead to 47-39 with 10:32 left in the game. The Lady Tigers couldn’t mount much offense in the final minutes of the game and MCC took the 14-point victory.

Lampton led the way in scoring for MCC with 26 points and the former Hattiesburg star ended the game with six three-point buckets. Stinner ended her solid performance with 15 points, while Malaka Johnson added seven points.

MCC will return to action at home Thursday night against East Mississippi Community College. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at the Graham Gymnasium.

Northeast (men) 75

MCC 65

The Eagles couldn’t complete the sweep and fell to the Tigers by 10 points in men’s action. Meridian has now lost 16 straight games to open the season, while Northeast Mississippi improved its overall record to 6-5.

MCC held a 36-34 lead at the end of the first half and held a double-digit lead at one point during the first half. MCC couldn’t overcome the hot shooting in the second half by Acie Vance, who finished the game with 25 points.

MCC cut the lead to as little as six points in the final two minutes, but Northeast was able to secure the game with clutch free throws down the stretch.

William Byrd and Nick Waters led the way in scoring for MCC with 14 points apiece, while Kenny Davis added 10 points in the loss.

MCC will return to action Thursday night at home against East Mississippi Community College beginning at 8 p.m.