CLARKSDALE, Miss. — It took some time to knock off the rust for the No. 17 Pearl River women's basketball team Monday night at Coahoma, but the Wildcats pulled away with a 57-46 victory. The contest was PRCC's first since Dec. 15.

"Tonight looked like both teams had played 10 games in the division already," head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "It came down to executing. They're a really well-coached team. We did a really good job of getting into the open court and creating opportunities. We utilized our depth and controlled the glass. That was the difference tonight."

Coahoma (10-2 overall; 0-1 MACCC) shocked Pearl River (12-1; 1-0) in the early going of the contest, jumping out to a 6-0 advantage right as the game began. The Wildcats didn't pull level until the 2:42 mark when Jazmine Jackson (Jacksonville, Fla.; Andrew Jackson) had a perfect trip to the free-throw line.

On the following Wildcat possession, Jackson gave PRCC its first lead. After breaking away on the fastbreak, Jackson caught a pass in the right corner and drained a 3-pointer despite having a defender in her face, 10-7.

The opening quarter ended with the Wildcats holding a 13-10 lead. 

Pearl River lived at the free-throw line in the second quarter. Roge'Ne' Hillard (Hazlehurst; Copiah Academy) hit the first two of the frame before Natasha Barnes (Chicago, Ill.; Kenwood Academy) hit nothing but net on a 3-pointer.

Sydney Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md.; McLean School) converted four straight from the charity stripe to grow the advantage to 22-13. Sanyla Smith (Tupelo) picked up PRCC's final basket of the quarter, dropping a floater inside the paint, 24-18.

Pearl River extended its lead to 11 points in the third quarter. Barnes opened things with a deep 3-pointer. A few Wildcat points later, Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio; Warrensville Heights) unleashed a spin move into the paint and scored through a foul. She promptly stepped to the free-throw line and converted the 3-point play, 34-27. Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) had the next highlight of the quarter for the Wildcats, pulling down a rebound, dashing down the court and euro-stepping to the basket for a score, 38-29. PRCC added one more basket in the quarter to go ahead 40-29.

The Wildcats had to withstand Coahoma's comeback effort in the fourth quarter as the Tigers cut the deficit down to eight points at 48-40. Barnes made sure that she kept the Wildcats ahead by draining a corner 3-pointer.

With PRCC ahead by 11, 53-42, Coahoma was forced to foul to try to remain in the contest. Jackson had two separate trips to the free-throw line and made all four of her attempts to help the Wildcats secure a 57-44 victory.

LEADING THE WAY
Jackson and Lewis tied for the team lead in points with 12.

"Jazmine continued to do what she's done all year, and Sydney dominated on the glass," Fletcher said.

Barnes was second with 10 points. 

"Natasha did just what we recruited her for," Fletcher said. "She hit huge, timely shots that kept us ahead."

Peyton Heavey (Tupelo) and Hillard had six points apiece.