Second half defense lifts Lady Wolves to victory

WESSON, Miss. - The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Lady Wolves trailed the Delgado Community College Lady Dolphins 32-25 at the half on Thursday, but Co-Lin made a strong comeback as the team held the Dolphins to just 12 points over the final 20 minutes to run away with a 63-44 victory. The win moves the Lady Wolves to 8-1 overall on the year and drops the Dolphins to 2-8. The Lady Wolves are back in action on January 1 and 2 as the team plays in the Bossier Classic in Shreveport, LA against Trinity Valley Community College and Kilgore College. The games start at 5 and 3 p.m. respectively.

"We played a lot better in the second half, we wore them down and got some of them in foul trouble and finally made some shots," said Co-Lin head coach Gwyn Young. "Orlandra McGee made some big threes and that turned a lot around, I'm glad to get a win today. We are going to have two really tough games at the Bossier Classic and I hope that will help us be ready for South Division games when we return from Christmas break."

The Lady Wolves' offense struggled early as the team netted their first basket over three minutes into the game. The slow start allowed the Lady Dolphins to build a double-digit lead, 13-3, midway through the first quarter. Co-Lin finally found some rhythm late in the first quarter and throughout the second. Strong play from Orieon James, Dashell Davis, and a pair of three-pointers from Chardonay Williams helped keep the Lady Wolves in the contest. At the half, Co-Lin trailed the Lady Dolphins by seven, 32-25. 

Co-Lin came out of the half firing as the team rattled off an 18-2 run that lasted nearly seven minutes. The huge offensive push swung the game into Co-Lin's favor with a nine-point, 43-34, lead. The offensive explosion was a team effort with big baskets from Orlandrea McGee, Sha'Quandra Carter, Camryn Davis, and solid free throw shooting from a host of other Lady Wolves. Co-Lin grew that lead into double-digits and played lockdown defense for the remainder of the game to win 63-44. 

Orlandra McGee led the Lady Wolves with 13 points after going 3-of-8 from three-point range, while Dashell Davis finished with 12. Sha'Quandra Carter rounded out the top scorers with 11. Carter and Davis both led the team with eight rebounds each. Darien Tubby led the team with five assists. Victorianna Nelson led Delgado with 13 points and seven boards. 

The Lady Wolves shot 34 percent (20-of-59) from the floor, 35 percent (9-of-26) from three-point range, and 70 percent (14-of-20) from the free-throw line. The Lady Dolphins shot 31 percent (16-of-51) from the floor, 25 percent (4-of-16) from downtown, and 57 percent (8-of-14) from the stripe. The Lady Wolves dominated the boards once again with 45 rebounds to Delgado's 32.