ECCC moves into MACJC tourney finals

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Feb. 26, 2004
BOONEVILLE East Central Community College allowed just 14 points in the second half's first 13 minutes, advancing to the MACJC Tournament finals with a 72-63 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
After trailing for most of the first half on Wednesday, the Lady Warriors jumped out to a six-point lead in the two minutes following halftime and never fell behind in the second period.
Rita Birden led the Lady Warriors with 18 points, 10 of which were scored in the game's first 10 minutes. Kristin Chaney added 15, and Kimyatta Viverette tallied 14 for East Central (25-2).
The Lady Warriors, who were held without a field goal for the first four minutes of the game, led only once in the first half. Kristin Chaney put East Central up 25-24 with 3:58 left in the first on a running layup, but the Lady Warriors quickly fell behind again before a Birden jumper tied the game at 29 at the half.
East Central opened the second half with six unanswered points and went up 38-30 when Viverette drained ECCC's first three-pointer of the game. JoAnna Williams answered on Gulf Coast's next possession with a three of her own, and the Lady Bulldogs trimmed the Lady Warriors' lead to 40-39 with 15 minutes left on a Williams jumper.
But Gulf Coast managed just five field goals over the next 10 minutes after East Central went into a 2-3 zone. The Lady Warriors capitalized, garnering their first double-digits lead with 6:20 left on a fast-break layup by Chaney.
After bringing the Lady Bulldogs within one, Williams the game's high scorer with 25 points was held without a field goal for nearly nine minutes.
And he did Tuesday against Itawamba Community College, Hodge took advantage of his team's success on defense by playing four guards for much of the second half.
Gulf Coast came within nine points on a Williams baseline jumper with five minutes to go, but it was the last time the Lady Bulldogs were down by fewer than 10 points until a layup with four seconds left.
The Lady Warriors advanced to today's championship game at 6 p.m. The evening tipoff leaves East Central with a little more time to prepare than they enjoyed on Wednesday. Both of the Lady Warriors' first two games in the tournament began at 1 p.m.
Hodge said the extra time will be spent wisely in bed.