Lady Warriors grab slim win over Co-Lin

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Jan. 20, 2004
DECATUR East Central Community College and Copiah-Lincoln Community College have had many tough battles as two of the premier women's basketball teams in the MACJC South Division and Monday's contest was no exception.
ECCC, ranked 23rd nationally, held off a late charge by the Lady Wolves to take a 68-64 victory in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
ECCC improved to 13-2 overall and 4-1 in division play. Co-Lin dropped to 8-6 and 3-2.
The Lady Warriors led by as many as 12 points in the first three minutes of the second half before Co-Lin came storming back.
The Lady Warriors used a 3-pointer from Monique Overstreet, a steal and layup from Kristen Chaney, and a 3-pointer from Kotreece Bender to grab a 34-24 lead late in the first half.
ECCC took a 35-28 lead into halftime behind nine points each from Kim Cox and Rita Birden.
The Lady Warriors opened up a 42-30 lead behind four points from Lenore Gray in the first three minutes of the second half.
A 10-0 run by Co-Lin pulled the Lady Wolves to within 42-40 with 14 minutes remaining. A basket just inside the 3-point line by Jessica Melton as the shot clock sounded cut Co-Lin's deficit to 47-46 with 10 minutes showing.
Birden scored on a pass from Bender on a 3-on-2 break to extend ECCC's lead to 51-46 with 8:23 to go.
The Lady Warriors saw their lead cut to two before a basket from Kimyatta Viverette put ECCC up 61-54 with 4:51 remaining.
The Lady Wolves battled to within a point on two more occasions, the last coming with 1:49 showing.
Chaney made two free throws with 57 seconds left and Viverette took the ball away from Melton just beyond midcourt with 42 seconds to play. After a timeout, the Lady Warriors converted the turnover into a game-clinching three-point play by Viverette with 26.9 seconds left.
Birden led ECCC in scoring with 13 points. Chaney and Cox both had 12, Gray had 10, and Viverette nine.
Co-Lin got 14 points from Travalyn Smith, 13 from Renee Fields, 12 from Gloria Lewis, and eight each from Melton and Victoria Richardson.
Co-Lin (men) 83
ECCC 68
The Warriors fell to 0-5 in the division and 5-9 overall with the 15-point loss. Co-Lin improved to 2-3 and 7-7.
The Wolves scored 20 of the last 29 points of the first half to turn a 25-25 tie into a 45-34 midway lead.
Co-Lin held a 52-40 lead early in the second half, only to have the Warriors rally to within 54-53 on a 3-pointer by Jamaal Martin with 11:41 to go.
After Al Willis tied the game at 64 on a layup with seven minutes left, the Wolves scored 19 of the game's last 23 points to pull away.
The Warriors got 17 points from Willis, 15 from Dewayne Hughes, and 14 from Martin.
Co-Lin was led by Ledell Eackles' 30 points. Dexter Middleton scored 19 and Jeremy Richardson had 15.