2016 Combined

Uespife the struggles of hfS backups, Porter said he was thinking about down the road and stressed the importance of giving his bench some much-needed game experience. "It's very important, especially this late in the season," Porter said. "We're still trying to work on getting our rotation a little bigger. When these kids can get plfiying time this late in the season, you get to see what they can do, and it helps." Alexia McDonald,ed ECCC in scoring with 15 points, while Mir acle Rushing had 12 points and Samantha Duncan S('ored 11. Kalbriah Haskin finished with 13, Johnta' Hughes tallied 12 points and Jelisa Pearson chipped in with 11 points. For MCC, Roshonae Rice had a game-high 16 points. Adrianna James scored 15 points, Mala McCullum finished with 14 points and former Meridian High School standout Kashari Gordon tallied 11 points. McGillberry was complimen tary of her leading scorer, saying the freshman post player was much better than she has shown at times during the season. "Being a freshman;she's nervous during game time," McGillberry said. "I think she's going to come around. She's my go-to player, but she's just a baby. We have to work on her getting stronger mentally and physically and to know you're at a different level. You're not in high school anymore; this is the collegiate level, and you have to turn it up." ECCC rose to 15-2 on the year, 7-1 in conference play, while MCC fell to 2-15 overall, 1-7 in league play.

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Paula Merritt/ The Meridian Star

East Central Community College's Richenda Crutcher drives In for a layup against Meridian Community College's Kashari Gordon Thursday night.

The Warriors had five players reach double figures in the win, and Randy Phillips led the way with 17 points, while Ravion Henry added 15 points. Keion Peoples and Prince McDaniel both finished with 14 points apiece, and Derrick Dandidge finished with 10 points. Tevin Smith and Mike Woodard led MCC in the scoring depart ment with 13 points apiece, while

Darrin Mitchell added 10 in the home loss for the Eagles. MCC (5-12, 1-7) will return to action on Monday with a road trip to Mississippi Gulf Coast, while ECCC (11-6, 6-2) will play host to Jones County Junior College. MCC Sports Information Director Robby Robertson con tributed to this report.

ECCC MEN 80, MCC69

The ECCC men had to fight off MCC in the closing minutes of the nightcap to take an 11-point vic tory. The Warriors held a slim 41 40 lead at halftime, and both teams swapped the lead on several occa sions down the stretch.

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