HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team clinched a Gulf South Conference Tournament spot, despite falling, 74-73 in overtime at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It's the first conference tournament berth for the Choctaws (14-12, 9-10 GSC) since the 2019-20 campaign.
 
MC's seeding and Super Tuesday opponent are to be determined following Saturday's game at the University of West Alabama.
 
Three Choctaws scored in double figures led by Ally Alford with 17 points off the bench. Kyiah Julian added 13 points. Amelia Bell recorded her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
 
MC shot 34.9 percent from the field, including a 31.3 clip from behind the arc, but connected on just 75 percent from the free-throw line. The Choctaws grabbed 42 rebounds.
 
The Navy and Gold held a 48-37 lead at the end of three quarters, but were outscored 37-25 over the next 20 minutes, including 27-16 in the final 10 minutes of regulation, to fall by one point. The Choctaws' 11 -point lead at the end of the third period marked its largest lead of the game as Alford drove in for a layup with eight ticks left.
 
"We are thankful to be in the GSC Tournament, that was one of our goals entering the season, but we would like to have had a better showing tonight," said head coach Greg Long. "We just let this one get away from us late. Now we have to refocus and pick up a win at West Alabama on Saturday to have a say in our seeding."
 
In a game that witnessed seven lead changes and seven deadlocks, the Chargers tied the contest at 64-all on an Alexis Woods put back in the paint with six seconds left. The Blue and White gained its first lead of the game with 4:31 left to play on a Jirah Rogers' jumper. MC fought back and tied the contest three times during the extra period and held a 73-70 advantage with 47 seconds left. However, a pair of Miajah Bullock free throws pulled UAH within a point and Holly Harris gathered a rebound and dropped a jumper, falling back, with two seconds left to extend the Choctaws' slide in Spragins Hall as the program continues to look for its first win in Huntsville since January 28, 2017.
 
Woods led the Chargers with 21 points and 18 rebounds.  Bullock added 18 points. UAH shot 39.4 percent from the field despite posting a paltry 12.5 clip from the 3-point line. It, however, converted on 20-of-25 for 80 percent from the charity stripe, including 12-for-13 during the final 20 minutes.
 
Tip-off in Livingston, Ala., is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.

  Read Full Article