2004

next stop... Kansas

J.--< \...- 7

Region 23 Champions East Central Community College's Lady Warriors won the Region 23 champion– ship last week at Clinton. The Lady Warriors leave for Salina, Kan., and the NJCAA Division I Women's National Championship Tournament Saturday. Brackets will be drawn today. EC will play its first game either March 16 or 17. Photo by Marty Stamper. Gray had 25 points in the five sophomores."

chance. They controlled the tempo of the game, and we couldn't ever make shots to get into some full-court pressure. "Fortunately our defense was able to survive." EC struggled on the offen– sive end for nearly six minutes to start the game, having only a Viverette &ee throw to show for their efforts. The good news was that Co-Lin led by only 8-1. Gray got EC's first basket on a putback with 14:14 left in the half. After Co-Lin went up 10-3 on a basket by Travah Smi h the Lad\ \\ •. ~:-~. r-. :-teat'u ff 1~ unan– S\vered points to grab a lead they would not relinquish. Cox had a basket and two free throws during the run, with Britney Burks' baseline jumper putting EC up for good at 11-10 with 8:42 to go in the half. After a layup by Birden, Burks scored on another baseline jumper for a 15-10 lead. "The five sophomores that sit on the bench are the ones that have really made the dif– ference," Hodge said. "A cou– ole of them played a t la-.t v .... ~r ~nrl ::.~ nnt nt~ • ..;~ .....,..--.

In addition to Burks, oth– ers in that quintet are Ebone' e Leverette, Moruque Overstreet, Hope Murray, and Miranda Rosar. EC led 30-21 at halftime. EC grabbed its biggest lead of the game at 38-28 with 12:31 remaining on a putback by Bender. Co-Lin got to within 41-37 with seven minutes left. A 3-pointer from the top of the key by Overstreet and a double-pump layup from Chaney extended EC's lead to 46-37 with 4:40 to go. Co-Lin battled back to withm 46-42 on a pair of free throws from Renee Fields with 2:01left, but a basket by Birden and two tree throws each from Chaney and Bender over the final 1:14 clinched the region crown. EC got 14 points from Chaney; seven points, 11 rebounds and two steals from Gray; seven points and seven'rebounds from Bender; six points and -.even rebounds from Birden; .. ix point-. and two blocks from Cox; ei~ht re --~ - ..a

tirst half and five other Lady Warriors hit at least one· 3- point basket. Leading 59-33 with 13:52 remaining, the Lady Warriors scored 23 of the next 36 points to go up 82-46 with 5:55 left. Hodge cleared his bench at that point and Northeast scored 21 of the final 31 points to leave with some measure of dignity. EC also got 11 points from Kim Cox; 10 points from Bender; eight points, four a.-1d three c;tcals from nd trom irden; and from lonique Marquetia , and 15 from Ashley • EC =>2. Copiah-Lincoln ,.;ertmnJy wa,n't r 29 wino..,, -~-t5 victory In in the t 20-4, got 25 from

clinched for the