Lady Wolves Late Surge Leads to Win over Lady Tigers

WESSON – The Co-Lin Women's Basketball team returned to conference play hosting Northeast Mississippi on Thursday, February 15. The Lady Wolves used an explosive fourth quarter to earn a come-from-behind win against the Lady Tigers, 72-67.

"Very proud of the resilience the team showed in this game," stated Co-Lin head coach Dr. Britta Stephens. "Despite a poor shooting third quarter, we continued to battle the entire game and never gave up."

The teams traded baskets and leads in the opening minutes of the first quarter ultimately resulting in the Lady Wolves holding an 8-6 lead with 4:42 left to play. The Lady Tigers then responded with a 6-4 scoring run to tie the game at 12-12 with 2:49 remaining in the quarter. The Lady Wolves then looked to hold an 18-16 lead as the first quarter was closing, but the Lady Tigers hit a three-point basket as time ran out to seize the lead at 19-18.

Both teams started the second quarter matching scoring outputs with ten points each to make the score, 29-28, with 6:33 left to play. The Lady Tigers then outscored the Lady Wolves, 6-5, over the remainder of the second half to take a 35-33 lead as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

The Lady Wolves opened the third quarter with a 10-7 scoring run to hold the lead at 43-42 with 5:25 left on the clock. However, the Lady Tigers responded with a 13-6 scoring run to closed out the third quarter with a 55-49 lead over the Lady Wolves.

The fourth quarter saw the Lady Wolves outscore the Lady Tigers, 23-12, as the quarter started with both teams adding six points to their total to make the score 61-55 with 6:07 remaining on the clock. The Lady Wolves then went on a 9-0 run over the next few minutes to flip the game and regain the lead at 64-61 with 3:10 left in the game. The Lady Tigers then used a quick 4-0 scoring run to take the lead at 65-64 with 1:24 remaining on the clock. The Lady Tigers then gave the Lady Wolves four free throws thanks to a personal and technical foul called on a play while A'Shante Fleming (Canton) hit three of four shots from the line to give the Lady Wolves a 67-65 lead with 1:04 remaining. The Lady Wolves then closed out the game with a 5-2 scoring run to secure the 72-67 comeback win. In the final 1:04 of the game, the Lady Wolves were a combined 8-10 from the free throw line with Fleming going 5-6 while Angel Wilkinson (Brookhaven) went 3-4 to close out the game.

Angel Wilkinson led all scorers as she set a new career high with 29 points along with seven rebounds and two steals while A'Shante Fleming had 17 points with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

"Cookie Wilkinson had a breakout game in this win with her 29 points and seven rebounds while A'Shante Fleming was also excellent offensively for us. Both did a good job of handling the ball against Northeast's pressure," added Stephens. "Alex Washington and Sequoia Bouldin were huge for our team defensively, especially late in the game."

Kayla Howard (Shaw) had six points with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal with Sequoia Bouldin (Hattiesburg) adding five points with three rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. Alexanjria Washington (Canton) and Ceara Myers had four points each while Washington added five rebounds and Myers added four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block to her performance. Jamea Smith (Jackson) had three points, Kiersten Haynes (Clinton) had two points, and Myla Harbor (Farriday, LA) had one point to round out the scoring for the Lady Wolves.

Co-Lin is now 11-9 overall, 3-5 in conference play, and will return to action on the road against No. 10 Pearl River on Tuesday, February 19. Tip-off between the Lady Wolves and Lady Wildcats is set for 5:30 p.m., at Marvin R. White Coliseum in Poplarville.