Bulldogs win 8th straight

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast was a little slow coming out of the blocks, but the Bulldogs got better with the return of a couple of key players from injury and pulled away from Gadsden State 61-51 on Saturday at the Weathers-Wentzell Center.

"The first three quarters, we didn't play the way I would like for us to play," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "The fourth quarter, we turned it up. This was Kayla Simmons' first game back, and I could see the difference. This was Mia (Goolsby's) first game back, and I could see the difference."

Simmons, a sophomore post player from Brandon, had 10 points. Goolsby hit a couple of big 3-pointers.

Kelsi Jackson (Fr., South Jones/Moselle) led the Bulldogs with 11 points. Nine different players scored for Gulf Coast.

After trailing by three at the end of the first ten minutes, the Bulldogs (8-0) were up 25-20 at halftime. The Cardinals (5-6), playing their third game against MACJC teams in three days, didn't go away, and pulled within two at the end of the third quarter.

Jackson had six of her points in the final frame, and Amayla Sharif (Fr., Phoebus/Chester, Pa) added six of her own in the quarter.

"We've got to get ready for East Central on Monday night," Adams said. "Our inside presence has to be good, and we have to limit turnovers."

Gulf Coast plays its first MACJC South game Monday when ECCC visits the Weathers-Wentzell Center. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

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