CLARKSDALE- The Coahoma Lady Tigers have managed to traverse a long, tough journey during the 2018-19 season with first year Head Coach Stephanie Murphy taking the lead. They celebrated the good times and endured the bad moments throughout the season. Murphy has made great strides toward big Improvements to the women's basketball team. The Lady Tigers seized the opportunity to end the season on a good note against crosstown rival Mississippi Delta.
Both teams went beyond the call of duty for some coveted bragging rights. But Coahoma bounced back from their biggest deficit of the season in a 64-62 overtime victory on the game night set aside to shine light sophomore athletes.
Mississippi Delta (7-14, 5-7 MACJC North) had their biggest lead 40-23 with 8:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Coahoma fought back by outscoring the Lady Trojans 15-3 in the third quarter. Aryanna Thigpen and Walneika Holmes took charge for the Lady Tigers and cut the lead to 43-38. They combined for 13 of 15 points.
The Lady Trojans started hot in the fourth quarter with five straight points by Celentria Rice. They extended the lead to 48-38 with nine minutes remaining.
Coahoma came back with consecutive layups by Dzondria Young. Holmes scored seven straight points in the last three minutes to tie the game 55-55.
The Lady Tigers were presented with the chance to win the game in regulation. Khiyee Robinson was given a shot at free throws with two seconds remaining after being fouled. She missed both free throws as the game went into overtime.
In the extra period, Thigpen set the tone with consecutive layups. Coahoma took their first lead of the game, 60-56, with 3:30 remaining.
The Lady Trojans proceeded with defiance as Sabrina White scored a layup to tie the game at 62-62.
Holmes put the game in her hands by scoring a driving layup with six seconds remaining.
Mississippi Delta were under the right conditions to win the game one last time. To their misfortune, Rice missed a three-pointer at the buzzer giving Coahoma the victory.
"I'm so proud of the girls for not giving up and continuing to fight until the end," said Murphy. "From day one, we tried to build a foundation to the program that we wanted to be. Coahoma is not going to be a program that guarantees you a win. We are already begun to change the name and reputation of the program."
Two Lady Trojan players scored in double figures. Rice led Mississippi Delta with 13 points and three rebounds. Shammia Love pitched in 12 points including 4 three-pointers.
Three of the Lady Tigers ended the game in double figures. Holmes led the Lady Tigers with 26 points and seven rebounds. Thigpen scored 15 points, two rebounds, and seven assists. Robinson finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
Coahoma's Women Basketball team left the final game of the season on a high. 13 sophomore student-athletes were honored with gift baskets and balloons in a special presentation after the game.
Seven athletically gifted players from the Lady Tigers team (Holmes, Robinson, Young, Essence Lambert, Ukari Pimpton, Faith Harrington and Ke'Aisa Pittman) and six sophomores from the Mighty Tigers team (Terry Williams, Dequan Morris, Jaborris Frazier, Robert Boyd, DeNori Berry, and Rickey Smith Jr.) gathered at the center of the court with their family and friends to be celebrated.
Coahoma's graduating cheerleaders and tumblers (Ladarius Houston, Shamar Davis, Xavier Taylor, Yasmine Harper, Yasmin Hunter, Lashaundra Bell, KeAisa Pittman, Kobreana Smith, and Brooklyn Powell) were also recognized.
Coahoma's Lady Tigers have won the most games of a full season in seven years. They combined with the Mighty Tigers for their first MACJC North double-header sweep since 2016. The Lady Tigers finished the season 7-16, 2-10 MACJC North.
