Lady Indians advance to region semifinals with win over Co-Lin
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
CLINTON, MS – In a rematch of last year's National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 championship game, the Itawamba Community College Lady Indians defeated Copiah-Lincoln Community College, 76-61.
ICC (17-7) jumped out to a quick start after Grace Elliott (New Site) nailed back-to-back three pointers and got six points from Zaida Cox (Ripley) to push the Lady Indians out to 24-18 lead in the first quarter.
The Lady Indians' hot shooting continued in the second half as they pulled away for a 48-31 halftime lead. Elliot added another three early in the quarter to match Jabria Pounds' (Nettleton) nine-point effort in the first half.
Co-Lin (20-5) opened the second half on a 7-2 to make it 50-38 at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter before rallying to cut the Lady Indians' lead to 59-49 by the end of the third quarter.
The Lady Wolves got the first basket of the fourth quarter to make it a 59-51 game, but the Lady Indians were able to match Co-Lin shot-for-shot down the stretch before pulling away for the 76-61 victory.
Pounds led the Lady Indians with 17 points and 11 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the season. Asia Partlow (Tupelo) added 16 points while Marlee Hatcher (Pontotoc) chipped in 13 in the victory.
Brittany Rose led the Lady Wolves with 19 points.
ICC will face No. 14 Jones County Junior College (26-1) at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9 in the Region 23 semifinals. The Lady Bobcats picked up a win 96-70 over East Central Community College (13-11).
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