Fields’ 23 lead Bulldogs past Delta

PERKINSTON — Simaru Fields helped Mississippi Gulf Coast overcome a sluggish start, and the Bulldogs ran past Mississippi Delta 58-50 Thursday at Dantzler Arena.

The freshman guard from Gulfport scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the second quarter.

"She's a spark plug and sees the rim, she's one of the best scorers in our league," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "We're fortunate to have her here. I think her best basketball is ahead of her."

Fields finished with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds as well as four assists.

The Bulldogs (7-3, 2-1 MACCC) managed only one field goal in the first eight minutes of the game, but their defense kept them in it. Je'Mya Evans (Fr., Gulfport/Harrison Central) swatted away Trojan shot after shot, and Gulf Coast trailed only 12-8 after 10 minutes. She had eight points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

"It's her first year playing for us," Adams said. "We're really coaching her hard in practice to be physical. She's a specimen, but she's catching up to the game. We know she's a great rebounder and physical presence. I think as the season goes on, she's going to get better."

Fields started and ended the second quarter with buckets, and her assist with 6:28 left in the half gave Gulf Coast its first lead of the game at 15-14. She found Evans in the lane for that bucket, and found Amber Scott (So., Jackson/Hillcrest Christian) in the lane for another that made it 17-16.

Tytiana Buckley (Fr., Meridian/Meridian) made a put-back with 3:03 left in the half for a 25-20 lead, one that Gulf Coast would not relinquish.

Gulf Coast led by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter.

Elsie Harris (So., Mobile, Ala./B.C. Rain) had 11 points for Gulf Coast, which was playing its fourth game in eight days.

"We didn't play our best," Adams said. "We struggled behind the arc, and that's been our strength the past few games. We're consistently talking to them about getting the ball in the paint because we do have a good mid-range game and we can finish at the rim with contact."

Gulf Coast gets an extra day off before taking on Northeast Mississippi on Tuesday. Tipoff in Booneville is set for 6 p.m.

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