Senatobia, Miss. — The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team (21-8, 11-3) rallied from a slow offensive start to beat Jones College (20-9, 8-6) 61-56 in the quarterfinals of the Region 23 Tournament.
The game began with Northwest shooting just 12.5% from the field in the first quarter, making only two shots. The Bobcats dominated inside, scoring 12 of their 15 first-quarter points in the paint. Despite the rough start, sophomore guard Layla Hampton carried the team, scoring all five of the Rangers’ first-quarter points and finishing the half with 15 of the team’s 20 points.
Jones maintained the lead at halftime, 27-20, after closing the second quarter with a 7-4 run. The third quarter saw NWCC cut into the deficit early, but Jones responded with a 9-0 run. The Bobcats also capitalized on free throws, especially after Saniyla Smith made three foul shots following a half-court heave at the buzzer, pushing the lead to 45-38 entering the final quarter.
In the fourth, Northwest exploded offensively. A three-pointer from A’Destiny Bogan sparked a 10-3 run, tying the game at 48. Dekyra Mitchell then put the Rangers ahead with 3:30 remaining. Jones responded with a game-tying three with 1:34 left, but Zoe Metcalf hit a crucial three-pointer to give NWCC the lead for good. The team sealed the victory with free throws in the final seconds.
Hampton’s performance kept the Rangers in the game during the first half. After the game, she reflected on her effort, saying, “I just knew that I had to keep making shots. They were stopping my other players, so I just had to step it up.” The game marked the last for the team at Howard Coliseum, where they celebrated with their fans before exiting.
Head coach LaTaryl Williams praised the team’s resilience and thanked supporters. The team now advances to face Itawamba Community College on March 11 at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville. NWCC aims to continue its postseason run, with Coach Williams emphasizing the importance of taking it one game at a time.
For updates, fans can follow the Rangers on social media or visit nwccrangers.com.
