LIVINGSTON, Ala. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team closed out 2024 with a 63-53, Gulf South Conference victory at the University of West Alabama on Saturday, Dec. 21. MC improved to 8-4 on the season and 4-2 in GSC action.
 
A trio of Choctaws scored in double figures led by Tytiana Buckley with 23 points. It's the second 20-plus point effort for the Meridian, Miss., native and two points shy of her career high set earlier this week against Auburn University at Montgomery.
 
Tiara Abron added 15 points and Alexis Rowe provided 10 points. It is the 10th game with 10-plus points for Abron and the fourth for Rowe this season. Keller Bigham paced the effort on the glass as the Choctaws pulled down 40 as a squad. The Warren, Ark., product grabbed eight.
 
The two teams tussled back and forth throughout the contest, but the Blue and Gold outscored UWA by 11 in the fourth quarter to pull away late. IMC forced 24 Tiger turnovers and turned them into 24 points, outscoring the Red and White by 13 in the category.  It is the seventh time this season the Choctaw defense has forced its opposition into 20-plus miscues and the second in conference play.
 
Tied at 43-all with 7:23 left in the game, the Blue and Gold went on a 6-0 run to grab a lead and never trailed the remainder of the way. MC grabbed its first double-digit lead with 31 seconds remaining (61-51) and the largest lead of the game 14 ticks later (63-51).
 
The victory is the third straight in the series for MC and the second consecutive on the Tigers' home floor. The Choctaws hold the series lead at 19-18 and garnered their seventh decision in Pruitt Hall.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 2 as it hosts Valdosta State University. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.