Apaches Shine in Bulldog Invitational, Split Games in Mississippi

Perkinston, MS- The Apaches traveled to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi, to compete in the Bulldog Invitational. They faced off against the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs in their first game on Thursday, December 12th, and emerged victorious with a hard-fought 63-57 win.

The Apaches started strong, taking a 21-18 lead in the first quarter. By halftime, they had extended their advantage to 39-28. Despite the Bulldogs outscoring them in the third and fourth quarters, the Apaches held firm and secured their win with a final score of 63-57.

Key contributors to the Apaches' victory were Taler Thornton and Grace Ezebilo, who have been standouts throughout the season. Thornton scored 16 points, dished out 5 assists, and grabbed 5 rebounds. Ezebilo added 13 points and dominated the boards with 10 rebounds, showcasing her tenacity and grit on both ends of the court.

In their second game of the Invitational, the Apaches faced the Meridian Community College Eagles but fell short in a 48-58 loss. The Apaches got off to a strong start, leading 17-11 at the end of the first quarter. They managed to hold onto a slim 28-26 lead at halftime. However, the Eagles surged in the second half, outscoring the Apaches 12-5 in the third quarter and 20-15 in the fourth to seal their victory.

Despite the loss, standout performances came from Monica Bottley, who led the team with 16 points and added four rebounds. Grace Ezebilo continued her strong showing with 13 points, 3 assists, and an impressive 22 rebounds, cementing her as a key player for the Apaches.

The Lady Apaches have one more game before heading into Winter Break. They'll face Arlington Baptist JV on Monday, December 16th, at 2 p.m. for their annual Ugly Christmas Sweater game, promising to end the year with some festive cheer.