Bulldogs trounce Dolphins in opener

Mississippi Gulf Coast got its women's basketball season off to a dominant start Monday by blowing out Delgado 67-39 in New Orleans.

Ten different Bulldogs scored as they controlled the game from late in the first quarter on. Beverly Tillman (So., Laurel/Laurel), Aniya Saddler (So., Columbus/Columbus) and Elsie Harris (So., Mobile, Ala./B.C. Rain) each had nine points to lead Gulf Coast.

"For the first game, I thought we played fairly well, especially since we weren't able to scrimmage anybody," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "We got our first-game jitters out. We came out kind of cold in the first half, but the second half we got in a rhythm and started knocking down shots."

The Bulldogs outscored the Dolphins 30-12 in the paint and 33-1 off turnovers. Gulf Coast had 20 fast-break points to Delgado's 2.

"We tried using our rotation with five-in and five-out, and it worked excellently," Adams said. "We had one group that we want to slow it down and be methodical, and the second group comes out and presses and applies chaotic pressure."

Brieanna Miller (So., Moss Point/Moss Point) led MGCCC with six rebounds. She, Saddler and Tillman had four steals each. Harris led Gulf Coast with five assists.

Gulf Coast returns to action Thursday with a non-conference matchup at Meridian. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.