MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team stumbled in its second contest of the 2023-24 season as it fell 56-61 at LeMoyne-Owen College on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the final game of the Gulf South Conference-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover.
 
Sophomore Keller Bigham paced MC (1-1) in the setback. The Warren, Ark., native totaled 14 points and eight rebounds. Brett Gardner and Kaylee Jones tied for second on the team in scoring with seven points each while Sky Vaughn and Brylee Faith Cherry each grabbed six rebounds.
 
The Choctaw shot 27.1 percent from the floor in the game, including 5-for-18 from behind the arc for 27.8 percent. The team connected on 14-of-21 attempts from the free-throw line for a 66.7 clip and totaled 35 rebounds.
 
The Blue and Gold found behind early as it trailed 13-0 midway through the first quarter, but rallied to cut the deficit to 15-10 at the end of the frame. MC turned up the pressure in the second period and held a 30-28 advantage at the break, as it outscored the Lady Magicians 20-13 in the frame.
 
"I am not happy with the loss, but it is hard to win when you spot a team 13 points at the beginning, on their home court" said head coach Greg Long. "I am happy with the effort we showed after the first quarter, especially with some adversity we've already experienced this season. We will grow from this weekend and get better."
 
LOC rallied, following the intermission, to pull within a point heading into the final 10 minutes action. The Purple and Gold hung around in the final stanza and used a late run to outscore the Choctaws 17-11 and claim its first win of the season and its second win in the series against MC.
 
Kamryn Knight paced LOC with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jade Salters joined Knight in double figures with 10 points. The Lady Magicians shot 32.7 percent from the field, despite only a 16.7 clip from behind the 3-point line. They were also 20-for-30 at the charity stripe for 66.7 percent and gathered 39 rebounds. The game saw 10 lead changes and nine stalemates.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 15 as it travels to Arkadelphia, Ark., for its third straight, non-conference tilt. The Choctaws face Ouachita Baptist University with tip-off at 6 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena.