Lady Wildcats suffer heartbreaking loss to Southwest
POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College appeared to have a big South Division victory in its hands against Southwest Mississippi, but the Lady Bears snatched it away in stunning fashion.
Leading by four points with 10.7 seconds to play, the Lady Wildcats gave up a lay-up, a steal and a 3-point basket for a crushing 60-59 defeat in women’s basketball action Monday night at M.R. White Coliseum.
The loss dropped PRCC to 11-6 overall and 4-5 in the South Division; SMCC improved to 15-3 and 6-3.
It was a thrilling finish to an exciting game that featured 13 lead changes and seven ties, and neither team led by more than six points.
The game was tied 11-11 after the first quarter, Pearl River led 29-28 at halftime and Southwest owned a 40-38 lead heading into the final period.
Redshirt sophomore Rah Franklin (pictured left) of New Orleans, got hot in the fourth quarter for PRCC, scoring 10 of her 13 points in the final period, including a pair of 3-point shots, as the Lady Wildcats built a 55-50 lead.
The Lady Bears closed the margin to 55-53, but PRCC sophomore Charisma Walker got a putback basket to extend the lead to 57-53.
Southwest against narrowed the margin, but Franklin sank a pair of foul shots with 10.7 seconds left to give Pearl River a 59-55 lead, setting up the dramatic finish.
Franklin led the Lady Wildcats with 13 points, sophomore Tyasia Willis (Camden) had her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lady Wildcats will be back home on Thursday to host Jones County. Tipoff is at
5:30 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed on prccmedia.com.
PRCC BASKETBALL SUMMARY
WOMEN Monday at Poplarville
Southwest 60, Pearl River 59
SMCC 11 16 13 20 – 60
PRCC 11 18 9 21 – 59
SOUTHWEST (15-3, 6-3 in South): Kacie Fountain 2, Danyelle Lewis 8, Keturah Bingham 11, Peyton Papenburg 7, Amari Pittman 13, Rachel Thompson 10, Jamaya Galloway 6, Ty Lee 3..
PEARL RIVER (11-6, 4-5 in South): Charisma Walker 7, Rehema Franklin 13, Tyasia Willis 11 (12 rebounds), Gabby Brown 6, Aire’Anna Norwood 8, Shauntelle Adams 5, Kyla Malone 7, Destiny Williams 2.
