2008

3 -~- D~ ---'-- , -

WEEK OF

By Marty Stamper Appeal Sports Editor For the fourth time in school history, the East Central Community College Lady Warrior basketball team will be performing on a national stage. By winning the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament last week at Mississippi College in C linton, EC's Lady Warriors will be playing in the NJCAA Division l Women's Basketball Championship at Salina, Kan., March 18-22. In the regional, EC knocked off Southwest Miss– issippi Community College 81-72, MACJC state cham– pion ltawamba Community College 75-59, and Holmes Community College 67-62. "It's one of the goals you set out to do each year," EC coach Bill Smith said of qualifying for tne national tournament. ''Fonunately, this time we'll go." It was a strong comeback for the Lady Warriors, who lost to Holmes in the opening round of the MACJC State Tournament two weeks ago. A short stay in the state tourna– ment may have been just what the Lady Warriors needed.

East CcntraJ Community College's Lady Warriors celebrate winning the Region 23 Championship foUowing their 67-62 victory over Holmes Community College Thursday night at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton. The ECCC women, who improved to 22-6 under third-year head coach Bill Smith, advance to the 2008 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship scheduled March 18-22 in Salina, Kan. ECCC posted wins over Southwest (81 - 72) and ltawamba (75-59) prior to defeating Holmes for the region title.

ECCCpltolo the state champions score– Jess for nearly six minutes to start the second half, turning a 24-21 halftime edge into a 35-21 advantage. The loss snapped ltawamba's 13-gamc win– ning srreak. ICC didn't score its first basket of the second half until the 14:06 mark when Courtney Cannon hit a short runner. By then. the Lady Warriors had put up II unan– swered points. The Lady Warriors extend– ed their lead to as many as 22 points late in the game. Mystee Dale scored 24 points, while Rashima Jenkins and Tawayatha

"Getting beat by Holmes 27 lead into halftime after that first game might have trailing the Lady Bears 24-15. woke us up a little bit," Smith A basket from Allison said... ow, they made up Phillips and a 3-pointer from their minds they were going Tancsha Brown got the Lady to have to play if they wanted Wan·iors back in the game and to keep playing and we had a putback from Tawayatha three pretty good ballgames.'' Evans pulled EC to within one. The complete field for the Phillips, Evans. and Brown all national tournament won't had baskets as EC scored the be known until this week as last 12 points of the half.

Phillips, and six from Chotsani Henderson. The Lady Warriors claimed a 41-29 advantage on the boards. Dale had nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Evans grabbed seven boards. "We really had to have everybody stefi up to win, and we did. J thought all of ours played well," said EC coach Bill Smith. Kimberly Griffin led Southwest, 18-8 with 24 points. Phenicia Taylor sc9red 15 and Erin Brabham ac:fdcd II. EC women 75 ltawamba 59 The Lady Warriors held

A_F

CJ

several regionaJs are still in

The Lady Warriors main- tained a 5-12 point lead throughout the second half. Brown and Evans led EC

progress.

S(

EC women Southwest

81 72

Ul

The Lady Warriors over- with 18 and 17 points respec- came a nine-point deficit in tively as the Lady Warriors

\!\

beating Southwest in the improved to 20-6. quarterfinals on March 3.

EC also got 14 points

S

EC closed the first half from Rashima Jenkins, 13 with a 21-3 run to take a 36- from Mystee Dale, nine from O fHER ____________________