CLINTON, Miss. --- MC women's basketball picked up back-to-back Gulf South Conference victories with an overtime decision over AUM, 82-80, on Saturday, Jan. 31 inside A.E. Wood Coliseum. The Choctaws (8-11, 7-7 GSC) secured the victory with a season-high 17-steal and 21-assist performance that led to 16 points off turnovers.
 
Valencia McFall led the team with 26 points and completed a double-double by collecting 10 rebounds – her fourth of the season. The 26 points are the most by the Ocean Springs, Miss., native in her career and marked her third game with 20-plus points this season.
 
"We are going to be very good down the stretch because of her," said head coach Rachel Travis. We tell her every night, you know, hey, she was only averaging 7.5, 8.5 points last year, and we're asking her to be one of our leading scorers, and she is learning to do that in her senior season, and I just love what she's doing. She's being patient, she's learning."
 
Abigail Winslow added 14 points and tallied three steals. Karly Ivy set a career high with six assists and scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers while Vivian Sketoe recorded six steals and contributed 12 points. It marks the first time this season four Choctaws have scored 10-plus points in a game.
 
"We shared the ball and played tough tonight," said Travis, whose team improved to 7-0 this season when tied or leading at the half. "We didn't start strong, and I think that's what was so cool about tonight is we didn't start strong and we had to come back and, and, and get a lead. We ended up getting a lead. We gave it away. I mean this was just such a tough game. I want to shout out our, our male practice players. They come every single day. They put us in situations like this in practice. We work on advanced timeouts. We work on another team going on a run, and then we got to figure out how we can, you know, get, get to our advanced situations and finish plays."
 
AUM established an early lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on the Blue and Gold's turnovers to outscore them 19-10, but the Choctaws rallied in the second period, doubling up the visitors from the Yellowhammer State, 20-10, and taking a narrow 30-29 lead into the locker room. MC orchestrated a strong second quarter, as it capitalized in the paint with eight points while out rebounding AUM 12-10. MC's ball movement was evident with seven assists, culminating in a late 3-pointer by Ivy that gave the Blue and Gold the edge at the half.
 
MC capitalized on efficient shooting, converting 11 of 17 field goals and dishing out nine assists to outscore AUM 25-22 in the third. The Blue and Gold matched their opponent with 12 points in the paint but gained an edge with a pair of 3-pointers, holding a four-point lead heading to the end of regulation.
 
The two squads battled through a tense fourth quarter, with both teams exchanging leads and ties. The Choctaws forced eight turnovers during the period, converting them into nine points. AUM held a slight edge in rebounding, securing 11 boards compared to Mississippi College's eight. AUM held a slim 70-69 lead with a minute to go, but a Winslow free throw knotted the contest at 70-all. The Warhawks had a look as time dwindled down as Samya Brooks' 3-pointer came up short.
 
In the tightly extra period, the Blue and Gold used proficient free-throw shooting that saw them sink nine of 12 attempts as it capitalized on AUM's seven fouls, converting crucial points at the line. Key defensive rebounds and timely steals helped maintain their narrow lead and turn the contest into the Choctaws' favor.
 
"We made free throws down the stretch," Travis commented about her team as they 85-percent from the free-throw line during the game, the second-best clip this season.
 
Brooks led the team with 30 points, hitting 12 of 21 field goals and making 6 of 11 free throws. She also contributed defensively with three steals. Andie Flatgard added 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while grabbing six rebounds. Navaeh Small made a significant impact on the boards, collecting 17 rebounds, including 10 defensive, along with two blocks and two steals.
 
Freshman walk-on, Faith Munholland, achieved her first, collegiate point, while Faith Quick set a new career-high with a total of four rebounds.
 
MC returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 5 as it starts the first of three consecutive road contests in league play. Tip-off at West Alabama is slated for 5:30 p.m.
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