CARROLLTON, Ga. --- Mississippi College placed three players in double figures scoring, but were edged on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at the University of West Georgia, 71-66, in Gulf South Conference action. MC moves to 3-12 on the season and 2-10 in conference action while the Wolves improve to 6-8 and 5-6 in the league.
 
Dezirae King paced the Choctaw triplets with a career-high 20 points. The Houston, Texas, native surpassed her previous best of 17 points against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Feb. 1, 2020. It is the second time this season a MC player has posted 20-plus points as Kyiah Julian accomplished the feat with 21 points against the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
 
Karly Ivy added a season-high 11 points while Ava Knoedl tabbed in 10 points. Ivy's previous high was 10 points in the season opener against LeMoyne-Owen College on Nov. 11. It marks the fourth time this season that Knoedl has recorded double figures.
 
Taylor Ben paced the squad on the glass with a career-high nine rebounds. Her previous best was seven boards against UWG on Jan. 8, 2022. King added eight boards, one shy of a career-high, as the team totaled 34 in the contest.
 
MC shot 43.1 percent from the floor, including a clip of 35.0 from behind the arc, and was 9-for-14 from the charity stripe. It also outrebounded UWG – the 10th time this season for the accomplishment.
 
Peace Okeke led the Wolves with 18 points and nine rebounds. The Red and Blue shot 44.4 percent from the field, but struggled from the 3-point line as it connected on 2-of-8. However, it converted on 29 of 36 trips to the free-throw line for 80.6 percent and grabbed 28 rebounds.  
 
MC held a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter as it closed out behind a 7-0 run, but trailed at the intermission 29-26 as Stephanie Torres knocked down a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining in the half.
 
The Wolves maintained the advantage until midway through the third period when King connected on a 3-pointer to place the Blue and Gold up 36-34. It the second straight trey for the squad as Kaylee Jones connected on one 34 seconds prior. An Ivy layup expanded the lead to 38-34, but the Wolves responded with a 14-4 run to close out the period and place them up 48-40 heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
 
UWG never relinquished the lead despite the Choctaw tying the contest on two different occasions in the final period – the last coming at 61-all on a Ben layup with 54 ticks remaining. A Torres' old-fashioned 3-point play placed the Wolves up 64-61 and the two teams exchanged free throws over the final minute.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Jan. 12 as it hosts Christian Brothers University. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
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