POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 15 Pearl River women's basketball team reached new heights Thursday night inside Marvin R. White Coliseum, securing a 20-win season for a fourth consecutive season with a 62-29 thumping of East Mississippi. 

EMCC's 29 points were the second-fewest scored in a game this season.

"Our girls really executed the scouting report on the defensive end," head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "They understand that our effort, attitude and activity level are important for us to succeed. Our rotations are really good right now, and we're guarding extremely well."

The Wildcats (20-2 overall; 9-1 MACCC) got off to an unbelievable start to the night against East Mississippi (8-13; 3-6), outscoring the Lions 19-4 in the opening quarter of the night. The first play of the night set the tone for the Wildcats. Roge'Ne' Hillard (Hazlehurst; Copiah Academy) denied a shot attempt with authority to give PRCC possession and Jae'la Smith (Vicksburg; Porter's Chapel) immediately drained a 3-pointer on the offensive end. Hillard knocked down a jumper on the next PRCC possession, 5-0. 

The scoreline sat at 8-4 with 5:30 remaining in the quarter, and that's when the Wildcats began to dominate. Smith found her way into the paint for a basket and drilled her second 3-pointer of the contest for the next five points, jolting PRCC to an 11-0 run and a 19-4 first-quarter lead. 

The run continued into the second quarter as PRCC scored the first seven points — four of which came from Peyton Hearvey (Tupelo) and three from Natasha Barnes (Chicago, Ill.; Kenwood Academy), 26-4. PRCC kept its foot on the gas throughout the second and led 42-15 at halftime.

The Wildcats led 45-19 at the 7:49 mark in the third quarter as Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio; Warrensville Heights) found her fellow out-of-stater Barnes for a 3-pointer. The lead moved to 52-22 a while later as Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) buried a three-ball. The Wildcats led by the same scoreline after three quarters.

The two teams were evenly matched in the final quarter of the night, but the Wildcats easily walked away with a 62-29 victory.

LEADING THE WAY
Barnes scored a game-high 12 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Hillard finished with eight big rebounds and four points.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats head to Holmes on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Bulldogs. The game will be livestreamed at HolmesCCMedia.com.

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