VALDOSTA, Ga. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team stunned Valdosta State University, 77-64, as MC snapped the Red and Black's five-game win streak. The Lady Choctaws improved their win streak to two straight – both coming against opponents from the Peach State.
 
The win ended a four-game, losing streak in the series to the Lady Blazers and gave the Navy and Gold its first victory in Valdosta since Jan. 21, 2017.
 
Five Lady Choctaws scored in double figures in the contest. Shanell Kitchens led the team with 15 points. Kaitlyn Thompson, Coco Hobson and Mikeba Jones each poured in 13 points while Zariah Matthews added 12 points. Jones grabbed a roster-best 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
 
MC shot 50 percent from the field, including a season-high 57.9 percent from behind the arc. The Lady Choctaws were 66.7 percent from the free throw line. The Navy and Gold grabbed 39 rebounds in the contest.
 
VSU was led by Cheray Saunders with 23 points. The Lady Blazers shot 35.6 percent from the floor, 30.3 percent from the 3-point line, and a clip of 63.2 from the charity stripe.
 
Game Score: Mississippi College 77 | Valdosta State 64
Date: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020
Location: Valdosta, Ga. | The Complex
Records: Choctaws 7-6, 4-3 GSC | Blazers 12-3, 4-3 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
>> MC opened the contest on a 7-0 run and grabbed its first double-digit lead, 15-5, at the 4:55 mark of the quarter on a Matthews 3-pointer. The Lady Choctaws held a 24-13 lead at the end of the quarter as Kitchens drained a trey at the buzzer.
>> VSU closed the gap behind a 6-0 run to start the second, but MC quickly pushed its lead back to double-digits, 29-19, as Thompson connected on an old fashioned, three-point play with 7:43 left before the half. The Navy and Gold held the double figure lead until the final minute of the quarter when Saunders connected on a jumper and closed out the period with a free throw to send the contest into the intermission at 40-32.
>> Valdosta State clipped the deficit to 47-46 with 5:49 to play in the third quarter, but the Lady Choctaws closed out the quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 14-point lead into the final 10 minutes of action.
>> The Lady Blazers edged MC 14-13 in the final 10 minutes, but to no avail as the Lady Choctaws walked out of The Complex.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
>> Five Lady Choctaws scored in double figures in the contest. It's the second time this season MC has accomplished the feat (W, 84-38 vs. MUW on Dec. 11, 2019).
>> Tonight's starting lineup of Matthews, Kitchens, Hurst, Jones and Hobson are 3-0 this season. MC has started six different lineups this season.
>> Mississippi College never trailed in the game.
>> Jones becomes the fourth Lady Choctaw this season to record a double-double.
>> Matthews has scored in double figures in 11 games this season, including three straight.
>> Kitchens has scored in double figures nine times this season, including four straight.
>> Thompson's fourth contest in double-digits scoring.
>> Jones' ninth contest in double figures in his debut campaign in Clinton.
>> Hobson's seventh game in double figures and third straight.
 
NEXT UP
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 as it travels to Pensacola, Fla., to face the University of West Florida. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.