Bulldogs bow out in R23 semis

POPLARVILLE — Mississippi Gulf Coast couldn't get its offense untracked until too late Wednesday and got knocked out of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in the Bulldogs semifinal here.

Pearl River won 63-53, and the Bulldogs' season ends with an 18-7 record.

"Offensively, we have to be able to execute, especially against teams like this," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "The difference between us and the top three teams in this league is that they just slow us down offensively. We can't generate easy buckets and knock down the easy shots. It just makes it a little bit more difficult for us in the game."

Pearl River (22-5) moves on to play Northwest Mississippi in the championship game, which will be played here on Friday.

Katelyn Brinkley (So., Ridgeland/Ridgeland) led Gulf Coast with 13 points and nine rebounds. Taelar Felton (So., Clinton/Clinton) had 12 points.

Riley Bishop (Fr., Gulfport/Hancock) knocked down a 3-pointer just before halftime to get Gulf Coast within 30-23, but PRCC outscored the Bulldogs by eight in the third quarter and pushed its lead to 19 early in the fourth.

Gulf Coast won the fourth quarter 19-14, but it was too little, too late.

Ariana Peagler (So., Hoover, Ala./Hoover) and Keela Bryan (So., Brunswick, Ga./Camden County) had 10 points each, and Bryan led the team with five assists.

"I don't think anybody expected us to make it this far, especially finishing in top four with a brand-new team," Adams said. "They finished strong overall. Taelar and Brinkley were the only returners for this team, and they pushed us all the way to the semifinals. I'm pretty proud, and now we have something to build upon off this year."

NJCAA Region 23 Women's Basketball Tournament

March 5-13

First Round

Thursday, March 5

No. 8 Coahoma 50, No. 9 East Central 49

No. 5 Meridian 83, No. 12 Northeast Mississippi 44

No. 10 Copiah-Lincoln 67, No. 7 LSU Eunice 64

No. 6 Jones 77, No. 11 Holmes 55

Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 7

No. 1 Pearl River 70, Coahoma 53

No. 4 Gulf Coast 79, Meridian 58

No. 2 Itawamba 71, Co-Lin 44

No. 3 Northwest 61, Jones 54

Semifinals

Wednesday, March 11

At Poplarville

No. 3 Northwest 77, No. 2 Itawamba 60

No. 1 Pearl River 63, No. 4 Gulf Coast 53

Finals

Friday, March 13

At Poplarville

Northwest vs. Pearl River, 6 p.m.

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