CLEVELAND, Miss. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team had a tough day in Cleveland, Miss., as the Choctaws (9-8, 5-6 Gulf South Conference) fell to Delta State University, 61-46, in conference play on Saturday, Jan. 18.
 
Alexis Rowe paced the Blue and Gold in scoring and rebounds as she totaled 12 points and six boards in the setback. It marked her eight game this season scoring in double figures, including four in a row. Nia Coleman and Keller Bigham finished the day just outside the double-digit scoring efforts. Coleman added nine with eight coming from Bigham.
 
MC started out hot scoring the first five points of the game and led for most of the first 10 minutes. However, it struggled producing points later in the quarter and found itself trailing by three points heading into the second period. The Choctaws rallied in the early minutes of the second and the two teams exchanged blows through the midway point of the stanza until the Lady Statesmen wrestled away the lead, taking a two-point margin into the locker room. The Green and White maintained the advantage through the third and expanded to its first double-digit lead with 2:47 remaining in the contest.
 
Three Lady Statesmen scored in double figures as Dakiya Toney guided the effort with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Grace Watson led the team with 16 points followed by Olivia Allen with 15.
 
The result snaps a two-game win streak in the series for the Blue and Gold. The two Magnolia State programs reunite on Saturday, Mar. 1 in Clinton, Miss.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 23 as it hosts 11th ranked Union University. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.