Horner's injury does in MCC
By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Feb. 18, 2003
The Lady Eagles of Meridian Community College were in position to gain a win on its final game at home this season.
That was until the team's top scorer in Monique Horner, went end-over-end trying to make a defensive play against Pearl River CC Monday night at the Ivy Sports Center.
The Lady Eagles could not recover from the loss of Horner in the game's final four minutes and visiting Pearl River escaped with a 75-66 win.
The loss dropped MCC to 13-11 overall and 4-9 inside MACJC South Division play. Pearl River improves to 8-5 in the South Division and secured a playoff bid to the State Tournament in the process. The Lady Wildcats are now 18-6 on the year.
MCC head coach Hilary Allen could only grimace about the tough fate his team has suffered in the past four weeks. The Lady Eagles have dropped nine of their last 11 games in league play.
Pearl River had no such problems thanks to the hot, second-half shooting of guard Audasha Kelley. Kelley scored 24 of her game-high 26 points in the second half to pace the Lady Wildcats.
Kelley is being recruited by Middle Tennessee State, Auburn and USM.
Up eight at the half, PRCC went out to a 46-33 lead about six minutes deep into the second half. MCC responded with a 9-4 run to close back to within eight at 50-42.
It was 56-50 with under eight minutes left when MCC's Stephanie Mosley drew a foul. She made both free throws to cut the lead to four at 56-52.
It was still a six-point game at 60-54 after a basket by MCC's Jawanda Huggins. Then after another Lady Eagle basket, Horner did the back-flip sending her to the bench with four minutes left.
Pearl River responded with a 10-1 run to put the game away. Kelley had six of the points in that span.
Stephanie Gonzales and Jancy Newsome each had 14 points to assist Kelley for PRCC.
Chelse' Alford led MCC with 18 points. Mosley added 16 points while Horner had 12 and Huggins chipped in nine.
The Lady Eagles close out their season on Thursday at Southwest.