Bulldogs roll on at Meridian

Mississippi Gulf Coast is roaring toward the regular-season finish line in impressive fashion, and the Bulldogs put another impressive victory Monday night.

Gulf Coast (18-4, 11-1 MACCC) maintained its hold on the top spot in the MACCC women's basketball standings with a 93-47 win at Meridian. The Bulldogs have won their last three games by an average of 41.3 points.

"We played great," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "We got after it defensively and were able to be disruptive. The most important thing is we pushed the ball. When we're playing fast, that's our team identity. That's who we are. The players had fun."

Tytiana Buckley (So., Meridian/Meridian) had a great homecoming, pouring in 25 points to lead the Bulldogs.

"Buckley had a mega-night," Adams said. "She shot the ball very well behind the arc, and she was able to get some offensive rebounds and putbacks. She played her butt off defensively."

Gulf Coast scored the first seven points of the game, and Meridian didn't score its first field goal until the 2:45 mark. Simaru Fields (So., Pass Christian/Gulfport) nailed a buzzer-beating shot from just inside the halfcourt line to make it 22-9 after 10 minutes.

The Bulldogs led by 21 at halftime, and the lead kept growing. The Bulldogs beat the Eagles (9-14, 5-6) to rebound after rebound.

"Coach (Carla) Bartee and I have been telling them we need to block out," Adams said. "We've been putting a lot of emphasis on it. We think as we get toward the end of the regular season, we're gelling and we're on the path to start peaking. We're peaking at the right time."

Eleven of 12 Bulldogs scored. Jacylin Houston (Fr., Louisville/Louisville) had 20 points, and Je'Mya Evans (So., Gulfport/Harrison Central) added 14. Ja'Sharreah Hunt (So., Roxie/Franklin County) poured in three 3-pointers in the second quarter on the way to 11.

The Bulldogs made 12 from behind the arc.

Gulf Coast has its open date in the conference schedule Thursday, so the Bulldogs will return to Dantzler Arena next Monday for Sophomore Night. Tipoff against Northwest Mississippi is set for 5:30 p.m.

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