POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 19 Pearl River women's basketball team took the lead five minutes into the night and never looked back against rival Gulf Coast, crushing the Bulldogs 75-48 inside Marvin R. White Coliseum.

The Wildcats remain in a tie for first place in the MACCC along with Itawamba — both teams sit at 5-1.

"We had really good control and flow on offense tonight," head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "We were locked in and really good defensively. Hats off to Gulf Coast — they played extremely tough with a thin bench. I know when they get some girls back, they will be where they are supposed to be.

"I've said it all year. I love this team. I know what I've got in this locker room. I'm proud to be their coach."

After Pearl River (16-2 overall; 5-1 MACCC) fell behind Gulf Coast (10-8; 4-2) early in the opening quarter, the Wildcats roared back in front with Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) leading the charge. The sophomore knocked down a pair of free throws and hit her first 3-pointer of the night to give PRCC its first lead 7-6 with 5:56 remaining in the frame. Sydney Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md.; McLean School) was then fed a fantastic pass down low from Natasha Barnes (Chicago, Ill.; Kenwood Academy) for a layup, 9-6.

Riley pulled up for a heat check 3-pointer to follow, and the shot hit nothing but net on the way down for her second 3-pointe. She nailed another long ball one possession later to increase PRCC's lead to 15-8. 

The opening quarter ended with the Wildcats in front of MGCCC 18-10.

Pearl River built an impressive advantage in the second quarter, outscoring its rival 21-12. Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio; Warrensville Heights) opened the quarter by unleashing a spin move to lose her defender for a layup. Gulf Coast responded with a nine-point swing to get within one, 20-19. 

The Wildcats built out a nine-point advantage, 30-21, with just over three minutes remaining in the second half. Gilmore helped the Wildcats get the advantage, going underneath and up for a layup. On the following offensive possession, Thailan Payne (Southaven; DeSoto Central) pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for a basket, 32-21.

Barnes made sure to send PRCC into the break on a high note. In the dying seconds of the first half, the Missouri State transfer pulled the ball away from a nearby guard, drove straight down the court and got her layup to fall as the buzzer sounded, 39-22.

The baskets were spread all around in the third quarter as the Wildcats scored a combined 21 points. Roge'Ne' Hillard (Hazelhurst; Copiah Academy) scored her first points of the game early in the quarter, knocking down a layup despite being fouled. Barnes followed with back-to-back 3-pointers, 51-28.

After three quarters, Pearl River led by 23 points, 60-37. Things were a bit more even in the fourth quarter, but PRCC continued to outscore the Bulldogs and took the contest 75-49. 

LEADING THE WAY
Riley scored a season-high 19 points — the sophomore shot 4-for-8 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line.

"I'm so proud of Riley," Fletcher said. "She didn't get to play against Gulf Coast last year because of her injury. I knew she was going to play well tonight. She had a different look on her all week long."

Jackson finished with a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double. The Alcorn State transfer also had three assists and three steals.

Barnes finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four steals to round out the Wildcats in double figures.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats head to Northwest on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Rangers. The contest will be livestreamed at NWCCRangers.com/watch.

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