POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Southwest gave the No. 16 Pearl River women's basketball team all it could handle Thursday night but the Wildcats came out on top against the Bears 51-43.

"It became a game within a game at the end, and we had to find a way," head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "We didn't get rattled when they made their run. We stayed composed and kept fighting.

"Our defense was supreme today. I told the girls we can't worry about the offensive end. We have to let our defense create offense. Our girls did a phenomenal job of that tonight."

Southwest (12-8 overall; 2-5 MACCC) took it to Pearl River (18-2; 7-1) to start the night, starting the game off on a 9-2 run. The Wildcats fought back to even it up at the 2:13 mark — aided by two big plays from Jazmine Jackson (Jacksonville, Fla.; Andrew Jackson). The first saw her catch a pass in the corner and drill a 3-pointer. On the next possession, Jackson dished it down low to Roge'Ne' Hillard (Hazlehurst; Copiah Academy) for a layup, 9-9.

The Bears took the lead just before the first quarter ended and pushed ahead by five points at 16-11 when the second quarter began. River River fought back to take its first lead of the night with 45 seconds remaining in the second. Riley received a pass, thought about it for a second and then popped a 3-pointer, 22-21. SMCC added a free throw before the buzzer sounded to send the game into halftime squared at 22 apiece.

Pearl River's game plan was different coming into the second half, and it flipped the script by immediately going on an 11-0 run. Jackson scored the first five points of the run before Hillard and Peyton Hearvey (Tupelo) added in a free throw apiece. Natasha Barnes (Chicago, Ill.; Kenwood Academy) followed up by taking a ball coast-to-coast for a layup. After a scrum on the floor for a loose ball, Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio; Warrensville Heights) ended up with possession. She flew down the court and threw an underhanded shot into the air and through the hoop, 33-22.

The Wildcats eventually took a 39-28 lead into the final quarter of the night. Southwest did everything it could to fight back in the game, but Pearl River was too much. A Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) 3-pointer pushed PRCC ahead 42-36, and Gilmore followed with another one. Gilmore was running out of time with the shot clock, sidestepped a defender and nailed her long ball. 

Southwest fouled the Wildcats down the stretch to try to keep in the game, but PRCC pulled away, 51-43.

LEADING THE WAY
Jackson finished with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double, marking her third consecutive double-double. She also dished out three assists.

Riley was second on the team with 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers.

Gilmore finished with nine points, two rebounds and two steals. The guard finished the game without a turnover.

"Paris played right at 30 minutes and didn't have a turnover," Fletcher said. "She took the matchup personally on the defensive end, and she executed on offense. I love it when she's aggressive at going downhill. It makes our team better."

Hillard finished with eight rebounds, and Sydney Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md.; McLean School) had seven.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats head to Copiah-Lincoln on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Wolves. The game will be livestreamed at Colinathletics.com/watch.

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