Lady Bulldogs drop close game at PRCC

Mississippi Gulf Coast led Pearl River for much of the first three quarters, but could not close out the game Tuesday in Poplarville.

The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Bulldogs 60-57 after Gulf Coast's Ka'Nosha Fairley's 3-pointer at the buzzer barely missed.

"I thought a couple of breaks late didn't go our way," Gulf Coast coach Jason Conner said. "There were some things we should have handled better, but didn't."

Gulf Coast lost its third straight to fall to 9-5 overall, 1-4 MACJC South. Pearl River improved to 5-8, 2-3.

Markeisha Watson was the only Lady Bulldog in double figures with 23 points. She also tied with Tiana Dampeer with a team-high seven rebounds.

Kailin Young had nine points and six rebounds for Gulf Coast.

Gulf Coast had a big deficit at the free-throw line, making 6 of 10. Pearl River was 17 of 25 from the line.

Still, the Lady Bulldogs had their chances.

"We had easy looks late and we just missed them," said Conner.

Gulf Coast trailed 59-54 with 43.3 seconds left before Watson hit a 3-pointer.

The Lady Bulldogs sent Akayla Powell to the line with 3.5 seconds to play, but she made only one free throw.

Gulf Coast advanced the ball to half-court with a timeout, getting the ball to Fairley for the finale.

"She got a decent look at," Conner said. "If we'd have gotten a good pick, we would have had a better look. She could have squared and got her feet set."

Gulf Coast returns to action Thursday at the Weathers/Wentzell Center when Hinds visits. Tipoff in Perkinston is at 5:30 p.m.