Smith hits two big FTs to lift Lady Bulldogs over NE Lady Tigers

BOONEVILLE --- Freshman Jalaceia Smith of Canton hit two big free throws in the final seconds to propel the Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs to a 66-64 win over the Northeast Mississippi Community College Lady Tigers here Thursday night.

With the win, the Lady Bulldogs went to 10-11 overall and 6-4 in the North Division. Holmes travels to Northwest on Monday night for a 5:30 p.m. division tilt before coming home on Thursday versus Itawamba at 5:30 p.m. to round out the regular season.

Going into next week, the Lady Bulldogs are sitting in third place in the North Division behind East Mississippi and Itawamba. Northwest is in fourth.

The Lady Bulldogs led 16-15 after one period and 32-29 at halftime after taking the second period, 16-14. Holmes outscored Northeast, 20-7, in the third before the Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth, 28-14, to make the game to close for comfort at the end.

Gabrielle Bunch led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points while Jordyn Manning had 13, Brysa Maxwell 12 and Morgan Williams had 10. Bunch led the Lady Bulldogs with nine rebounds.

For the game, the Lady Bulldogs shot 43.4 percent from the floor (23-of-53), 33.3 percent from the three-point line (5-of-15) and 60 percent from the free-throw line (15-of-25).