Lady Bulldogs press BRCC for victory

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast used its press to get a much-needed victory Saturday at home, defeating Baton Rouge 60-53.

"Our press worked well tonight," Lady Bulldogs coach Hope Adams said. "We went smaller and faster, and that's probably from here out, we've got to get points in the press because we're struggling in the halfcourt. If we can get some steals and transition buckets, that'll be our game from here on out."

Gulf Coast (6-9) completed a season sweep of the Lady Bears (5-11) and stopped a six-game losing streak.

Azaria Howard (Fr, Richland/Richland) led a well-balanced MGCCC scoring attack with 12 points. Eanna Sims (So, Jackson/Forest Hill) added 11, with J'Nitra Ratliff (So, Port Gibson/Port Gibson) adding 9 and Breannah McCullah (Fr, Edwards/Raymond) 8.

The Lady Bulldogs used a 12-2 run in the first-half to open their biggest lead of the game, 32-17 with 3:27. Baton Rouge closed its deficit to six by scoring the last nine points of the half.

They trimmed the Gulf Coast lead to 41-40 after three quarters after the Lady Bulldogs managed only nine third-quarter points.

The Lady Bears eventually took a 45-43 lead 2:31 into the final quarter, but four straight free throws by Sims started a 6-0 run that gave Gulf Coast a lead it would not relinquish.

The Lady Bulldogs' pressure sparked the turnaround.

"We've been trying to get our girls to stay engaged, to fight through and win games," Adams said. "Now it's getting them to grow up and win games."

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

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.