BOX SCORE

Clinton, Miss. – Brianna Smith netted a season-best 18 points and sparked a 13-0 run which put the Tornados ahead by double figures in the first half, but the Concordia University Texas women's basketball team dropped a 66-59 decision to undefeated Mississippi College on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the A.E. Wood Coliseum. The Choctaws, who are receiving votes in the national polls, rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit and held off a late rally by the Tornados to stay unbeaten this season.

Mississippi College (9-0, ASC 5-0), which defeated its first eight opponents by an average margin of 27.9 points, trailed by a 31-22 score at the break before opening the second half by scoring six straight points to get back into the game. Randa Lee converted a conventional three-point play to tie the game at 33 and canned a trifecta at 15:08 to give the hosts their first lead since there were eight minutes remaining in the opening half.

The teams exchanged leads a few more times over the next several minutes. Smith drilled one of her three shots from downtown to tie the game at 39 with 12 minutes to go, but the Choctaws answered with 12 straight points to pull ahead for good. Dominique Mayberry trimmed the deficit to four at the free throw line with 12 seconds left before Elizabeth Brooks and Jaleesa Taylor each made free throws to seal the final outcome.

After Lindsey England gave Mississippi a two-point lead by sinking a jumper, Concordia rattled off 13 unanswered to take a 26-15 advantage at the 2:53 mark. Smith scored nine points during the streak, canning a pair of 3-pointers as well as three shots in a row from the charity stripe to get it going. The Tornados took their largest lead of 12 points on a Mayberry trifecta from the right arc before Mississippi's Brigit Tayler ended the scoring in the first half by converting a jump shot and a free throw.

In addition to Smith, who scored her 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting, Concordia was also led by Mayberry and Margaret Milling. Mayberry scored 11 points and had three steals, while Milling netted 10 by making five of her six shots from the field. Lashanda Luckey just missed a double-double with nine points and eight assists. Shamika Singleton registered nine rebounds and four steals, which were both team highs. Jennifer Wair paced Mississippi with a double-double on 14 points and 11 boards. Jaleesa Taylor also added 14, while Lee and Brigit Tayler posted 13 apiece.

Concordia (2-4, ASC 2-3) will break for final exams before hosting the CTX Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29-30, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. game on Dec. 29 against Goucher. The two-day event's other participants will also include Coe and Howard Payne.