Bulldogs sprint into playoff with 4-game win streak

Mississippi Gulf Coast will sweep into the NJCAA Region 23 Women's Basketball Tournament on a roll after easily beating East Mississippi 61-49 in Scooba on Thursday.

Elsie Harris (So., Mobile, Ala./B.C. Rain) had 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, who had already clinched the fourth seed in the region. That gives them a bye and a home game in Wednesday's quarterfinals. They'll head into the playoffs riding a four-game win streak.

Gulf Coast (15-5) led 50-30 after three quarters, controlling a game they really didn't need to win.

"We wanted to make sure we closed out the regular season with a bang," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "I told them how proud I was of being 11-3 in conference. That's the most wins in conference we've had since I've been here."

Simaru Fields (Fr., Gulfport/Gulfport) had 13 points, and Tytiana Buckley (Fr., Meridian/Meridian) added 10.

Gulf Coast should know its potential opponents Friday after the Massey Ratings are updated in the morning. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the No. 5 vs. No. 12 game on Monday. That team will travel to Dantzler Arena for a 6 p.m. tipoff Wednesday.

The winner of that game will advance to the region semifinal next Saturday at Mississippi College in Clinton. The title game will be played the following day.

"They clinched fourth in a tough conference, and it gives us more momentum to go into that playoff game," Adams said. "We want to continue to win."

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