CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Mississippi College women's basketball team gave Lee University all it wanted on Tuesday, Mar. 4 in the Gulf South Conference Tournament Quarterfinal, but saw its season come to a dramatic end, 64-61, at Walker Arena.
 
The Choctaws (15-14) led for much of the contest, holding an 11-point advantage in the second quarter and taking a 37-29 lead into halftime. However, the Flames (24-5) rallied back in the second half, using a strong third-quarter surge to set up a tense finish.
 
A trio of Choctaws scored in double figures led by Tytiana Buckley with 14 points while Amelia Bell added 13. The duo also paced the squad on the glass with a team-best seven rebounds. Tiara Abron rounded out the scoring triplets with 10 points. Earlier in the day the Senatobia, Miss., native picked up All-GSC Second Team honors.
 
MC took a 61-60 lead with just over two minutes remaining on a layup by Sky Vaughn, but Lee's Mallory Hampton responded with a jumper to put the Flames back in front. After the Blue and Gold missed a pair of 3-pointers, 30 seconds later, Hampton knocked down to two free throws with eight seconds left, lifting the Lady Flames to the deciding three-point advantage.
 
The Choctaws had one more look at tying the contest, but couldn't get the triple to fall as the buzzer sounded. MC finished the night shooting 57.1 percent from behind the arc. The team posted a 42.3 clip from the field.
 
The Blue and Gold limited LU's second-chance points as it pulled down 21 of its 29 boards on the defensive end, restricting its opponent to nine points. However, the Red and White held the advantage in the paint, outscoring MC by 10 points (28-18).
 
Hampton led all scorers with 29 points while Anna Muhonen added 13 points and five rebounds for the Flames.
 
The 15 wins on the season tie the most for the program since its return to Division II and the GSC. It also garnered its first postseason All-GSC performer in 30 years and its first all-conference selection since 2014.