Bulldogs tame Tigers at home

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast got offense and rebounds from its bigs, and smothering defense from its guards in running away from Northeast Mississippi 69-41 at the Weathers-Wentzell Center on Monday night.

The key, though, was amping up the intensity coming out of the locker room for the final 20 minutes.

"Our focus at halftime was to come out and bring the energy and push the ball," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "I think we did that the second half."

Sharisse Bridges (So., Jackson/Callaway) had a double-double, and TK Catchings (So., New Hebron/Simpson Academy) had 10 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to their 10^th win of the season.

Aniya Saddler (So., Columbus/Columbus) and Morgyn Payne (So., Coushatta, La/Red River) put the clamps on Calysia Phillips, the Tigers' leading scorer, holding her 12 under her season average.

Gulf Coast led 30-24 at halftime, but began to pull away in the third quarter thanks to Bridges. She had 12 points in the period, including a pair of 3-pointers.

"The gameplan was to go inside tonight," Adams said. "We went to the bigs. Shay really showed up. I told her she got her mojo back this game."

Bridges also had six of her 10 rebounds on the offensive end, and Catchings had six offensive boards of her own.

Phillips came into the game averaging 20.7 points but managed only nine against the Bulldogs. She was frustrated most of the evening, particularly with a couple of charges drawn by Payne.

Payne led the Bulldogs with 11 assists and four steals and also had seven rebounds. She drew a pair of charges on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter which really helped open the game up.

"She's just a smart player overall," Adams said, "and she doesn't mind sacrificing herself for the team."

Saddler finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Beverly Tillman (So., Laurel/Laurel) added 11 points and three steals.

The Bulldogs (10-2, 2-1 MACCC) held the Tigers (3-10, 1-3) to 23.8 percent shooting and just 17 points in the second half.

Gulf Coast returns to action Thursday with a road trip to Poplarville. Tipoff against archrival Pearl River 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.