WESSON – Brandi Simmons authored her best game of the seasonThursday night, sacking 23 points and 12 rebounds in Co-Lin’s 88-70victory against the archrival Southwest Mississippi CommunityCollege Lady Bears. The 5-11 sophomore from Jackson made sure theLady Wolves would rebound from their first loss, dominating thepaint on both ends of the floor.

In the men’s game, Co-Lin held off a determined Southwest team fora 58-54 South Division victory. Co-Lin resumes play Dec. 6 at PearlRiver in Poplarville.

< The Lady Wolves (7-1) were stunned by a road loss at Northwestprior to the Thanksgiving Day break. Co-Lin, dropping six rungs toNo. 10 in the NJCAA Poll, was determined to start the SouthDivision race on a strong note.

“I was fired up,” said Simmons. “I ain’t had a good game untiltonight. We have been working hard in practice not to have anotherloss.”

Co-Lin went on a 10-0 run to start the second half as Simmons and6-1 teammate Sedreka Plummer began dominating the insidegame.

“Southwest didn’t have anybody who could match up with Brandi,”said Co-Lin women’s coach Gwyn Young. “Paige Webster had a goodgame for us coming off the bench.”

Webster finished with 11 points. Kiara Etienne added 10 points and7 rebounds. Co-Lin outrebounded Southwest 46-34.

Southwest (3-3), under the direction of first-year coach CaseyCarter, got 21 points from Shanekqua Bibbs, a 5-8 freshman fromMcComb. Kierra Addison chipped in 14 points.

The Wolves (4-4, 1-0) overcame 22 turnovers to beat the Bears (1-5,0-1). They withstood a late rally as Marcus Hooten tossed in agame-high 18 points for the Wolves.

“We got a 10-point lead but it didn’t last,” said Co-Lin men’scoach Dennis Sims. “We got tired and relaxed. Our execution inpractice isn’t being carried over to the game.”

It was Co-Lin’s first home-floor victory of the season. Simswatched his team nearly fall behind as Southwest pulled within 2points, 33-31, on a trey by Michael Hall with 17:58 left in thegame.

Sims called a timeout and his Wolves outscored the Bears 17-9 inthe next nine minutes. Antonio Holmes sacked a free throw, a fieldgoal and a tomahawk dunk during the run.

Maurice Williams supported Co-Lin with 12 points and 6 rebounds.Jamaal McCoy grabbed 10 rebounds.

Southwest, coached by Bill Wallace, got 17 points from Hall, a 6-4freshman forward from Columbus. Tim Martin, a 6-3 freshman fromMcComb, added 14 points.

Co-Lin outrebounded the Bears 32-20.