MCC Basketball Splits Home Set With Gulf Coast

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles continued to play superb basketball in the second half of the 2013-2014 Thursday night at the Graham Gymnasium. The Lady Eagles used a solid inside game from freshman Miaya Crowder to dispose of Mississippi Gulf Coast by a final score of 81-75. Crowder finished the game with 25 points and was a force in the paint for most of the game for the Lady Eagles.

The victory keeps the Lady Eagles right in the thick of the race for the MACJC South Division crown. MCC improves to 13-2 overall for the season and 5-1 inside South Division play. MCC entered Thursday night in a four-way tie for first place with Jones, Pearl River, and Southwest. Pearl River defeated Jones in overtime Thursday night by a final of 89-83, while Southwest defeated East Central by a final score of 65-42.

MCC and Southwest are both tied for first place in the South Division after victories Thursday night, while Jones and Pearl River are now one game back of the two top teams in the division race. MCC will open a huge three-game road trip that begins Tuesday with its biggest matchup to date, as the Lady Eagles will travel to Southwest. MCC will close out its three-game trip with games at East Central and Hinds. MCC and Southwest will take to the floor beginning at 5:30 Tuesday evening.

Sophomore guard Kristen Sampson had another solid performance for Meridian by scoring 25 points, while former Neshoba Central star Victoria Stewart finished the game with 15 points.

The MCC men were looking to carry over its momentum from a dramatic 71-70 victory over Pearl River Tuesday night, but the visiting Bulldogs were just too much to handle for the Eagles. Mississippi Gulf Coast earned an 86-69 victory over MCC to give the visitors a road split for the night.

MCC was led in scoring by Corey Brister with 12 points, while Donald King added 10 points in the setback for the Eagles. The MCC men are now 2-12 overall for the season and 1-5 in South Division play.

The MCC men will now hit the road for its next three games and its next scheduled game is Tuesday night at Southwest. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.