Bulldogs can’t close out upset at Scooba

SCOOBA — Mississippi Gulf Coast went into the final four minutes of Tuesday's MACJC quarterfinal with North champion East Mississippi even, but the next two minutes did the Bulldogs in.

The Lions scored the next five points, and Gulf Coast couldn't get back even, falling 53-47.

"We gave up 20 offensive rebounds, and that was one of the things we said we needed to coming in here, outrebound them by double digits," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "We gave up 13 rebounds to (Ja'Mia Hollings). We told them she'd be aggressive around the basket, but she was only 2-for-10 (from the field). She still kept them in the game."

Gulf Coast (16-7), the fourth seed from the South, has qualified for the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament next week in Clinton. The Bulldogs will play again March 4 at Mississippi College against an opponent to be determined.

Daphane White (So., St. Martin/Gulfport) had 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. She scored her final basket with 4:10 to play to knot the score at 44.

EMCC's Tia Daniels scored on a drive 30 seconds later, and Hollings got a bucket in the lane with 2:52 to play to make it 48-44. The Lions added a free throw with 2:06 left.

Truth Taylor (So., Jim Hill/Jackson) buried a three with 1:38 to cut the deficit to two, but Gulf Coast wouldn't score again.

Gulf Coast outscored EMCC 28-14 in the paint but turned the ball over 18 times while forcing only nine.

"We said our inside game was going to be tough for them," Adams said. "Daphane did a good job finishing around the basket. We just came up short rebounding and defensive execution."

It was a seesaw with eight lead changes and nine ties. Gulf Coast led by as many as five in the early going last led on a Taylor 3-pointer with 3:29 left in the third quarter that made the score 36-33. 

Gulf Coast now has some time to get refocused for the region tournament next week.

"We definitely have to work on our zone," Adams said. "We have to make sure these girls are locked in and understand what's at stake in the postseason."

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