Gulf Coast launches playoffs Wednesday

PERKINSTON — The last time Mississippi Gulf Coast played Coahoma was a turning point in the Bulldogs' 2022-23 women's basketball season.

Gulf Coast made the long trip to Clarksdale and lost 55-47, dropping the team to 4-2 in the MACCC. Since that point, the Bulldogs have won seven of eight and earned a bye into Wednesday night's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament quarterfinals.

What happened in Clarksdale? It's a lesson many learned in kindergarten, because Gulf Coast made the even longer trip home having registered only five assists.

"Sharing is caring," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. After that game, I really dug into our stats. All the games where we had 10 or less assists, we lost. Our five losses, they have a direct link, either offensive rebounds or assists. When we make that ball hop and we share the ball, we get it to open shooters and knock down shots."

Tipoff at Dantzler Arena will be at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

Gulf Coast had their poorest shooting night from the field (24.6 percent) and made just 1-of-14 from behind the arc. The five assists were a season low.

"We just didn't get a lot of ball reversal," Adams said. "It was one pass and then we'd shoot. They do a really good job helping off the ball. Our girls have to be mindful when they get past that first defender, jump stop, take their time, survey the defense and find the open man." 

Fourth-seeded Gulf Coast (16-5, 11-3 MACCC) is riding a four-game win streak. Coahoma finished 8-6 for the five seed in the tournament. The Tigers beat 12-seed East Mississippi 54-48 on Monday in Clarksdale. Wednesday's winner advances to Saturday's semifinal in Clinton.

The Bulldogs battled to get a top-four spot to guarantee a home game. They're hoping a big Dantzler crowd is a big factor.

"We fought our way to be in the top four to get a bye and the home game," Adams said. "That could be very important for us to move on to the semifinals at Mississippi College. We are a better team at home. We did get better toward the end of the season closing out those games on the road, and that's why we clinched fourth. With us having the homecourt advantage and having the home crowd supporting us, the girls really take pride playing for their crowd."

NJCAA Region 23 Women's Basketball Tournament

First Round

Monday, Feb. 27

Game 1: No. 8 Mississippi Delta 55, No. 9 Baton Rouge 47

Game 2: No. 5 Coahoma 56, No. 12 East Mississippi 48

Game 3: No. 7 Southwest Mississippi 73, No. 10 Copiah-Lincoln 48

Game 4: No. 6 Holmes 61, No. 11 Itawamba 55

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, March 1

Game 5: Delta at No. 1 Jones, Ellisville, 6 p.m.

Game 6: Coahoma at No. 4 Gulf Coast, Perkinston, 6 p.m.

Game 7: Southwest at No. 2 Pearl River, Poplarville, 6 p.m.

Game 8: Holmes at No. 3 Meridian, Meridian, 6 p.m.

Semifinals

Saturday, March 4

Mississippi College, Clinton

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, time TBA

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, time TBA

Sunday, March 5

Mississippi College, Clinton

Championship: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, time TBA

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.