MGCCC takes first loss

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast cranked up its defense in the second half of its first home game of the women's basketball season but couldn't close things out against Meridian.

The Bulldogs (2-1) erased a seven-point halftime deficit before falling 63-58 at Dantzler Arena.

Taelar Felton (So., Clinton/Clinton) had 17 points, and Nautica Bouie (So., Panama City, Fla./Rutherford) added 11.

Gulf Coast trimmed the lead to two after the first 30 minutes and tied the game at 46 with 7:24 to play. But the Eagles (3-0) scored the next five.

Caleah Kennedy (Fr., Natchez/Natchez) hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:35 left to make it 56-56, and Ariana Peagler (So., Hoover, Ala./Hoover) answered a Meridian bucket with a basket with 98 seconds to go.

The Eagles got the last five points of the game.

Gulf Coast hosts East Mississippi on Thursday in another non-conference game. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets, and the game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch. 

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.