CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team fell 72-68 in overtime to the University of West Florida. MC moves to 9-5 and 5-3 in the Gulf South Conference. UWF improved to 10-3 and 6-1 in the league.
 
The overtime is the fourth this season – all inside A.E. Wood Coliseum – with the Choctaws standing at 2-2. It is the eighth overtime affair during the Long era.
 
The setback is the first on the home floor in conference play since Dec. 31, 2023, ending a nine-game win streak.
 
A quartet of Choctaws scored in double figures for the second straight outing, led by Tytiana Buckley with 16 points. It is the Meridian, Miss., natives 10th contest in double figures, which is second on the team and her fifth game leading the team in scoring, which is tied for tops on the squad with Tiara Abron.
 
Amelia Bell poured in 15 points and was one rebound shy of her seventh career double-double with a team best nine. The O'Fallon, Ill., product has scored 10-plus points in 35 contests during her career and her eight of the campaign. It is her fifth game leading the team in rebounds.
 
Keller Bigham totaled 13 points and Alexis Rowe added 10. It is the fifth game in double figures for both.
 
Along with Bell, Rowe closed in on a double-double as she grabbed eight rebounds. MC totaled 43 boards in the contest. It is the sixth time this season with 40-plus boards. It is the second most in conference play.
 
It was a tell of two halves in regulation as the Argonauts held a 34-28 advantage at the intermission, but the Blue and Gold rallied in the second stanza, 32-26. In the extra period, UWF attempted just three field goals, connecting on two, but also managed shooting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line to outscore the Choctaws 12-8.
 
The game saw 14 lead changes and 10 stalemates over the 45 minutes of action. Both teams saw their largest lead in the second quarter. UWF's came at the 2:04 mark, 34-26, and the Choctaws coming earlier in the period, 7:13, as Buckley knocked down a pair of free throws to gain a 24-20 advantage. MC also held a slim margin in points in the paint at 32-26.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 9 as it travels to the Volunteer State for a pair of conference road outings. The Choctaws open the swing in Cleveland, Tenn., against Lee University. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. MC then heads up I-24 West for its first contest at Trevecca Nazarene. Tip in the Music City is squared for 2 p.m.