Bulldogs unleash lethal run to beat Coahoma

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast stayed in a first-place tie in the MACCC women's basketball standings Monday, pulling away from Coahoma in the second half of a 72-56 win at Dantzler Arena.

Four Bulldogs scored in double figures as a pivotal 19-4 run in the third quarter put them in charge after the first half ended deadlocked at 29.

"We started playing team ball," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "We played together as a family. Once we get in sync offensively and defensively, we're just a better team. And so the halftime adjustment was to play together. It's we over me.'

Gulf Coast (15-4, 9-1 MACCC) is tied with Pearl River, and the teams are a half-game ahead of Itawamba. Coahoma is 12-7, 3-6.

Taelar Felton (So., Clinton/Clinton) led her squad with 17 points off the bench. Katelyn Brinkley (So., Ridgeland/Ridgeland) and Ariana Peagler (So., Hoover, Ala./Hoover) had 11 each. Nautica Bouie (So., Panama City, Fla./Rutherford) added 10.

Brinkley scored nine in the third quarter, all of them in the key run that broke a 31-31 tie and left Gulf Coast up 50-35. Felton carried the load in the fourth quarter, picking up nine from long range and in close.

"With Keela (Bryan) being out, Caleah (Kennedy) was able to step in for us, and that was huge.  From the beginning (of the season), we knew that we had different threats on this team. We're still trying to peak, and as time goes on, hopefully we can bring everybody off that bench and be deep and really ready to make a run late."

Kennedy had nine points.

Gulf Coast travels to Booneville on Thursday to play Northeast Mississippi. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed at https://nemcctv.com/blackchannel/.

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