Basketball Falls to Southwest

MERIDIAN-- Both the men's and women's basketball team fall to 0-2 in MACJC South Division play with losses to Southwest Mississippi Community College. The Lady Eagles dropped the opening game of the night 65-45, and the Eagles fell 76-70.

The Lady Eagles(3-8,0-2), got in a hole early as the Lady Bears jumped out to a 17-5 lead early in the first quarter. The Lady Eagles battled to get within 7 to close out the quarter, but the Lady Bears would outscore the Lady Eagles 19-6 to close out the half and take a 38-16 into half time. The Lady Eagles came out of the break on fire and outscored the Lady Bears 18-9 to get within 11 going into the final quarter. The Lady Eagles were led by LaChrisha Williams, who had a game-high 18 points. The final quarter would turn back to Southwest's favor as they would close out the game on a 10-0 run to claim the 65-45 victory. For the Lady Eagles, Sydney Simms chipped in with 8 points, and Yolanda Nelson had 6. The Lady Bears were led by Shylia McGee, who had 13 points.

Both men's teams started the game on fire. They went back and forth, scoring for the first 13 minutes of the half with the Eagles holding a 2 point lead 29-25 lead. They would continue to trade baskets for the rest of the half, and the Southwest Bears would take a 1 point lead into halftime, 39-38. The Bears would come out ready to play in the second half and outscored the Eagles 24-12 to start the 2nd half. They would maintain a double-digit lead most of the 2nd half. The Eagles used a 16-5 run to cut the Bears lead to 4 with 3 minutes to play. Free throws would prove to be the difference, as Iverson Smith would miss a pair of free throws with a minute to play, and Southwest's Taylor Bell would immediately sink a pair to give the Bears a 6 point lead that would prove to be the final points of the game. The Eagles were 17-30 from the free-throw line while the Bears were 6-9. The Eagles were led by Alverson Powell, who had 19, and Darryl Jordan had 12. The Bears had three players in double digits, Damian Dear had a game-high 20 points, and both Jalon Andrews and Spencer Rodgers had 19.

Meridian looks to get back on track when they travel to Utica, MS, to take on the Hinds Community College Bulldogs, Monday night at 5:30 and 7:30.