WESSON – Gulf Coast fought back from several double-digitdeficits throughout the game. A missed 3-point basket at the finalbuzzer by Felicia Gray fell short as the Co-Lin Lady Wolves held onfor a narrow 73-70 win over the Lady Bulldogs in Mullen GymnasiumMonday night.

With the South Division win, Co-Lin moves to 8-0 and 1-0 in thedivision. Gulf Coast, coached by Greg Holmes, dropped to 8-2 and0-1 in division play.

The Lady Wolves, ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA poll, host Coahoma onSaturday. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

Co-Lin 73, Gulf Coast 70

“Neither team shot the ball well,” said Lady Wolves headcoach Gwyn Young.

Co-Lin opened the game as if the Lady Wolves wereprepared to blow the Lady Bulldogs out of the gym with their insidegame. Mindy Livaudais, a 6-foot freshman from Chalmette, La, was aforce on the inside. She scored 13 of the Lady Wolves’ 17 points.Her teammates enjoyed a 17-10 lead with 11:58 remaining in thefirst half.

Livaudais led all scorers with 27 points.

Gulf Coast found itself with a 12-point deficit, 32-20and fought to cut the lead to seven, 36-27 athalftime.

The Lady Bulldogs kept it close throughout the evening.Both teams missed a lot of easy shots and Gulf Coast was relentlesson the offensive boards.

“They (Gulf Coast) just killed us on the boards,” saidYoung. “They had 33 offensive rebounds. Gulf Coast outreboundedCo-Lin 59-42 in the game.

Gulf Coast took its only lead of the game, 43-42, on alayup by Nicole Fisher.

The Lady Wolves regained the advantage, 44-43, on aturnaround jumper by Crystal Brown. Brown finished with 9 pointsand 9 rebounds.

Lady Bulldog Robyn Lewis nailed a 3-point try with lessthan 10 seconds remaining on the clock. That brought Gulf Coast towithin two, 72-70.

Lady Wolf Rusti Smith, a 5-5 guard from West Lincoln,hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with 8 ticks left on the clockfor a 73-70 lead.

Gray’s shot at the final horn sailed harmlessly out ofbounds as time ran out. The Lady Wolves had dodged abullet.

Providing support for Co-Lin were Tiffany Dales with 8rebounds. Vanessa Andrews and Sherritha Simmons had 3 stealsapiece. Rusti Smith had 5 assists.