By By Fredie Carmichael/Special to The Star
Jan. 23, 2001
What a difference a half makes.
Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde were in full affect here at the Ivy Sports Center on Monday night as the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles overcame a sluggish start and came away with a commanding 85-59 victory over Wallace-Hanceville Community College.
The visiting Lady Lions of Wallace-Hanceville came out clicking on all cylinders as they jumped out to an early 20-9 lead after a deep 3 by Shunte' Johnson with 11:09 left to play in the first half.
MCC's Tommie Walden took over from there as she led the Lady Eagles on a 15-4 tear that tied it up at 24 with 5:22 left before halftime.
During the run, Walden scored six points which included a nice coast-to-coast lay up as she took on every Wallace defender before laying it in. Both teams battled it out on the boards from there and MCC took a 33-30 lead into halftime.
The first five minutes of the second half saw both teams jockeying for position as the two were tied at 38 with 15:16 left.
The Lady Eagles tried to get some breathing room as Catesha Riley hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to put MCC up by 50-40 at the 11:50 mark. But the Lady Lions just weren't ready to go away, as Erica Dixon hit two free throws to cut the MCC lead to 57-55 with 7:22 left to play.
After that, MCC seemed to wake up as they went on a mind boggling 22-2 run over the next five minutes.
Angela Bullock started it as she sized up a Lady Lion defender and then broke her down when she stepped back and knocked down a 20-foot jumper that put MCC up 64-55.
Moments later MCC's Riley got into the act as she hit a tough jumper in the lane.
Then, after a Wallace turnover, Riley made a spectacular alley-oop pass to a cutting Bullock who caught the ball in mid-air and laid it in to put the Lady Eagles on top 70-55 with 4:11 left in the game.
MCC ended the amazing run on a trey from the top of the key by former Meridian High standout Tijwana Collins, as the Lady Eagles went up 79-55 with 2:01 to play.
MCC finished the Lady Lions off as they went on to win in a rout, 85-59.
MCC(14-4) was led in scoring by the duo of Walden and Collins, who had 17 points each.
The Lady Eagles' Ericka Starks controlled the paint and had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lady Eagles will hit the road Thursday for their first Miss-Lou Conference game, traveling to LSU-Eunice.