Itawamba's LaPrecious Naylon limped out of the dressing room Monday night with ice bags wrapped around her hamstring and knee.
You'd have a tough time convincing Northeast coach Brian Alexander that Naylon was injured, especially after what he witnessed.
"She would have scored 50 on us (if she wasn't hurt)," he said.
The 5-foot-4 sophomore guard from Eutaw, Ala., scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Lady Indians to an 86-73 MACJC North Division win against the Lady Tigers before a packed Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
"It's been really hard to play, but I'm getting treatment every day," Naylon said. "This was a rival game. I was ready to play."
ICC coach Nanci Gray noted that Naylon's injuries would continue to hamper her the remainder of the season.
"We don't have time to get her completely well," Gray said. "The next eight (division) games she'll have to play through it."
Northeast (7-8, 3-2) took a 43-41 halftime lead following a 10-foot jumper off the glass by Anna Brooke Page. The Lady Tigers used a 9-0 run late in the half to erase a five-point ICC lead.
ICC (13-2, 4-0) picked up the tempo to start the second half, then used a 10-3 run to race to a 61-54 advantage. Naylon scored six of her points in the surge.
"We came out a lot more focused on defense in the second half," Gray said. "Northeast has a lot of good players. This is not just another game, not with this crowd. We changed our mental focus."
Jameika Hoskins scored 15 while Vechatita Bonner and Jasmine Hampton added 12 each for ICC. Amber Jackson led Northeast in scoring with 24 points while Page added 13 and Kebrina Lucas 10.
"They've got good players; it's pick your poison," Alexander said. "They were really guarding us. We were out of sync on offense."
Lady Indians defeat Northeast 86-73 in Booneville
Posted: Jan 23, 2012
