Bulldogs can’t finish comeback vs. Tyler

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast made a run at Tyler late in Thursday's second game of the Bulldog Invitational, but the Bulldogs couldn't complete the comeback.

Gulf Coast (5-4) trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and got it to a one-possession game late but lost 63-57 at Dantzler Arena.

Katelyn Brinkley (Fr., Ridgeland/Ridgeland) led Gulf Coast with 16 points.

Gulf Coast trailed 37-23 with less than two minutes to play in the first half, but got a 9-1 run to open the second half to get it to 40-37.

The Apaches (5-5) were able to stretch it back out to six headed to the final 10 minutes. A Brinkley three-point play cut that in half, and she had back-to-back buckets in the paint to make it 55-52 with 5:37 left.

Tamia Yates (So., Crystal Springs/Crystal Springs) made two free throws with 52.2 seconds left, then blocked a shot which gave the Bulldogs the ball back. Brinkley made a free throw with 25.9 second left to make it 60-57, but Tyler, who won a national championship in 2022, made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to ice it.

Taelar Felton (Fr., Clinton/Clinton) finished with 15 points, and Jacylin Houston (So., Louisville/Louisville) had 13.

No. 14 Trinity Valley beat Meridian 83-54 in Thursday's opener.

On Friday, Tyler plays Meridian at 1 p.m., with Gulf Coast taking on TVCC at 3. Both games will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.