Lady Eagles Celebrate Native American Appreciation Day with 20th Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
15 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 62 |
|
|
22 | 25 | 12 | 19 | 78 |
Team Stats
Coahoma Community College
| Game Statistics | Coahoma Community College | Meridian Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (21-80) | (28-60) |
| Field Goal % | 26.3% | 46.7% |
| Rebounds | 43 | 36 |
| Assists | 15 | 18 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 20 |
MERIDIAN, Miss. — It was more than just another conference victory inside the Graham Gymnasium on Saturday.
On Native American Appreciation Day, the Meridian Community College women's basketball team honored Choctaw standouts Nataysia Willis and Ashlynn Stephens while earning a decisive 78-62 victory over Coahoma. With the win, the Lady Eagles improved to 20-5 overall and 8-3 in MACCC play, marking the program's first 20-win season since 2022-23 and moving into fourth place in the conference standings.
The contest, originally postponed due to the ice storm that impacted Coahoma earlier this month, began with a powerful rendition of the national anthem performed by members of the Choctaw tribe.
Meridian wasted little time taking control on the court. The Lady Eagles built a 22-15 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 47-34 by halftime.
At the break, Mystic Wind, a Choctaw dance group, performed for the large home crowd, joined on the floor by members of the Lady Eagles in celebration of Native American Appreciation Day. A special recognition was also held for Choctaw Princess Lexi Camille Rodriquez, who received gifts and a shoutout during the festivities.
Back on the hardwood, Meridian maintained command. The Lady Eagles led 59-47 after three quarters and closed out the 78-62 win with steady play down the stretch.
Terica Smith led Meridian with 17 points, followed closely by Willis with 16 and Mia Washington with 14.
Head Coach Jocelyn McGilberry praised both the milestone victory and the meaningful celebration inside the Graham.
"It was a special day for our program," McGilberry said. "Reaching 20 wins is something we're proud of, but seeing our team celebrate together with members of the tribe at halftime meant just as much. It was a great atmosphere and a great win."
The Lady Eagles will return to action Monday when they travel to Ellisville for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Jones College.
Follow MCC Athletics on X (@mcceaglessports), Instagram (@mcceaglesathletics_), and Facebook (Meridian Community College Athletics) for updates, photos, videos, and more.
