UTICA — Hinds Community College welcomed Copiah-LincolnCommunity College’s basketball teams to J. D. Boyd Gymnasium Mondaynight for a South Division doubleheader. The Lady Bulldogs andBulldogs, playing their third game in five days, dropped a pair toCo-Lin. The Lady Wolves defeated Hinds 73-58, while the Wolvesescaped with 57-48 victory.

Co-Lin travels to Meridian Thursday for a South Divisiondoubleheader, beginning at 6 p.m. Co-Lin swept Meridian on Dec. 5in Mullen Gym, taking the women’s game 77-63 and the men’s contest78-65. Hinds is at Southwest Thursday.

Hinds ventures to Co-Lin, Feb. 19 in the regular-season finalefor both teams.

Co-Lin 73, Hinds 58

There were 3 ties and 4 lead changes in the first 5 minutes ofthe women’s game.

The Lady Wolves (10-6, 5-2) struggled out of the starting gate.Co-Lin took the lead for good at 10-9 on a basket by TravelynSmith. Smith finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

“We were sluggish starting out,” said veteran Lady Wolves coachGwyn Young. “Our execution was not good.”

Hinds (3-13, 0-6) kept this game close throughout its 40-minuteentirety. The Lady Bulldogs, coached by Mary Hunter, trailed 31-20at the intermission.

“This was our third game in five days,” said Hunter. “Our legswere tired, but the girls played hard.”

The Lady Bulldogs kept trimming away at their deficit but got nocloser than 5 points at 50-45 on a basket by Paulesha McBride.McBride, a 5-foot-8 freshmen forward from Union Church (JeffersonCounty), came off the Hinds’ bench to score 12 points.

“She (McBride) played her best game of the year,” addedHunter.

Co-Lin closed the game with a 23-13 run to secure the win. TheLady Wolves dominated the rebounding department with a 47-26 edge,including a 20-11 advantage on the offensive end.

“Hinds was quick and aggressive on the offensive end,”saidYoung.

LaShawnda Pryor led Hinds with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6assists. LaTonya Thomas added 11 points.

Co-Lin got a team-high 14 points and 6 assists from 5-foot-7freshmen guard Gloria Lewis. Jessica Melton pumped in 12 points anddished out 4 assists. Victoria Richardson added 11 points, 11rebounds and 3 steals.

Co-Lin 57, Hinds 48

The men’s game was nearly a mirror image of the opener, with 3ties and 4 lead changes in the early minutes.

Hinds (11-5, 5-2), behind the torrid shooting of sophomoreDonald Jones, held an early 12-8 lead.

Co-Lin (9-7, 4-3) used a balanced scoring effort from the 9players who saw playing time. Freshman forward Derrick Stewart ofNatchez came off the Wolves’ bench to toss in 5 of his team-high 10points in the first half.

The Wolves, coached by Dennis Sims’ held a 31-23 lead athalftime.

“Derrick played very well tonight,” said Sims. “The bench did agood job for us tonight.” Sims was also referring to reserves LukeLofton, Rayshone Autman and Don Lockhart.

Sims only had nine players available for last night’s game.Guard Brandon Caston was unavailable due to disciplinary action.Another player, sophomore guard Dontae Dixon of Brookhaven, hasquit the team.

Co-Lin’s subs outscored Hinds 19-6. The Wolves claimed the edgein bench rebounding at 19-13. Autman, a 6-foot-7 sophomore centerfrom Brookhaven, grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds.

With 16:50 left in the game, Jones drove in for a layup to cutthe Bulldog deficit to 12 points at 37-25. Jones, from Baton Rouge,went down with a pulled hamstring and did not return to the game.He finished with 14 points.

Hinds stayed in the game behind the streak shooting of sophomoreAdrian Harper. He tossed in 14 of his game-high 19 points in thesecond half. His 3-point basket with 2:31 left on the clock pulledthe Bulldogs to within 6 points, 54-48.

The Wolves were able to run out the clock to preserve thewin.

“Our defense played extremely well tonight,” added Sims.

Lending support for Co-Lin were Dartez Edwards and LedellEackles with 5 assists each. Lockhart pulled down 6 rebounds.Edwards had 3 steals.

Hinds is under the direction of Ralph Moore.