Brinkley's double-double fuels double-digit win over Jones

PERKINSTON — Stifling defense lifted Mississippi Gulf Coast to a second straight win to open MACCC women's basketball play Thursday, with the Bulldogs beating rival Jones for the fourth straight time.

Gulf Coast won 63-49 at a loud Dantzler Arena to improve to 8-3.

"We're finally merging into that team that we want to become," Bulldogs coach Hope Adams said. "Conference is a big deal. We don't want to peak too early, but I feel like the chemistry is coming along. I can see this team developing into what we needed to develop into, but the main thing is that all these girls are a factor for this team. It was a great team win tonight."

The Bulldogs, who have won four straight, were led by a dominating double-double by Katelyn Brinkley (So., Ridgeland/Ridgeland). She had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Taelar Felton (So., Clinton/Clinton) had 17 points, seven steals and five assists off the bench.

Gulf Coast forced 24 turnovers fueled by an eye-popping 17 steals. Roniya Ellis (Fr., Natchez/Natchez) had five of those. The Bulldogs took care of the ball, only turning it over 15 times.

"We've been talking about defense all year," Adams said. "We started off a little rocky, but I was just telling the staff that critiquing our own defense, even though we're 10th in the nation right now defensively, that's what's really pushing us to become one of the top defensive teams. We feel that if we could control the defensive end, everything else would fall into place, and we could generate easy buckets. The ladies just locked in."

Gulf Coast outscored the Bobcats in each of the first three quarters, taking control in the second by holding them to seven points. They led 31-20 at the break.

Jones is now 12-3.

Gulf Coast travels to Summit on Tuesday for its next MACCC game. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.