WESSON — Freshman post Kristin Ellis came off the bench Mondaynight and authored her first double-double, bagging 16 points and12 rebounds. She directed the Co-Lin Lady Wolves to a 55-44 victoryover the Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs in the openinground of the MACJC State Tournament in Mullen Gymnasium.

In 3 other first round games, North Division teams swept theSouth. No. 1 seed Northeast beat East Central 71-66, Itawambashaved Jones County 64-63 and Mississippi Delta eliminatedSouthwest 66-60.

The Lady Wolves (24-2) meet Delta Wednesday night at 6 p.m. inthe semifinals. Northeast plays Itawamba at 1:30 p.m. in the othersemis game.

Four men’s games are on tap today. In the afternoon session,South No. 1 seed Gulf Coast meets Northwest at 1:30 and South No. 3Pearl River tackles Holmes at 3:15. In the night session, South No.2 Co-Lin meets Delta at 6 and South No. 4 Hinds faces North No. 1Itawamba at 7:45.

Co-Lin 55, Holmes 44

Ellis, a 5-10 Vicksburg product, said she was merely taking careof business when she replaced starting post Erica Trahan who was inearly foul trouble. Trahan finished with 12 points.

“I felt good tonight,” said Ellis. “I just wanted to go outthere and play my game. I love playing for Co-Lin.

“We have a good team,” Ellis continued. “We want to win stateand regional and go to (Salina) Kansas,” location of the NJCAANational Tournament.

When Trahan picked up her fourth personal with 7:50 left in thegame, Co-Lin was holding a 10-point 44-34 lead. Ellis entered theaction and hit 2 straight field goals on a putback and a baselineshot. She scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the last 7minutes of the contest.

“Kristin scored some big baskets for us and did a great job,”said Co-Lin women’s coach Gwyn Young. “She jumps real well.”

Young said his team had trouble defending Holmes center MyeshiaJohnson, a strong 5-10 sophomore from Ridgeland. “No. 34 (Johnson)is big and physical.”

According to Young, his team was a victim of opening roundjitters. “We didn’t play very well for a long time tonight. I guessthey didn’t want to mess up. It’s good to get that first win.”

Co-Lin shot 44 percent from the field and outrebounded Holmes39-27. Dominique Whitfield pulled in 8 rebounds for Co-Lin.

Co-Lin playmaker Nikki Williams was limited to 4 points, 10below her average. She had 5 assists and 3 steals.

Holmes (7-17), the No. 4 team out of the North, is under thedirection of former Ole Miss coach Ron Aldy. Shae White, a 5-8sophomore from Durant, led the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points. AshleyBrown, a 5-6 freshman guard from McAdams, had 11 points. Johnsonscored 10 points.

Northeast 71, East Central 66

The Lady Tigers (17-6), defending state and regional champions,got 18 points from Whitney Mayes and 14 from Mary Beth Smith.

East Central (17-8) was led by Valerie Harris with 23 points andTanesha Brown with 12.

Itawamba 64, Jones County 63

Bronson Russell netted 18 points in the win over Jones County.Tacarra Harris and Keisha Schumpert each had 14 points.

Jones Co. (19-7) got 18 points from Pauline Love. Rosemary Greenadded 13.

Miss. Delta 66, Southwest 60

A 25-point performance by LaShundrya Townsend led Delta (16-9)over Southwest. Sophia Townsend and Tawana Marshall each had 14points in the win.

Southwest (14-11) got 21 points from Phenicia Taylor and 16 fromCarmiel Gamble.