WESSON — No lead was safe, especially in the MACJC SouthDivision women’s showdown between Copiah-Lincoln and MeridianCommunity Colleges in Mullin Gymnasium Monday night.

The Co-Lin Lady Wolves led by as many as 23 points in the secondhalf, but the Lady Eagles rallied for an 84-79 overtime win; thanksin part to a 36-13 run in regulation play.

Co-Lin fell to 13-9 overall and 6-5 in the South, while Meridianimproved to 16-6 and 8-3.

Co-Lin travels to Utica Thursday to take on South Division rivalHinds. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m.

This women’s bout seesawed in the first 8 minutes of the openinghalf. Each team held a 4-point advantage during that stretch. TheLady Wolves used a balanced scoring attack during the final 12minutes of the first half, to take a 42-28 lead into the halftimelocker room.

Co-Lin would open the second half with a 17-9 run, keyed by a6-point effort from sophomore forward Loretta Martin; as head coachGwyn Young’s ladies led 59-36.

With 14:18 left in regulation, Lady Eagle head coach HilaryAllen received a technical foul for disputing a call. That seemedto light a fire under his ballclub, as Meridian went on ablistering 36-13 run to send this game into overtime; tied at72-72.

“It all started with Karmethia (Mazique),” said Allen. “She usedher quickness and athleticism to find the open man.” Mazique, adiminutive 5-foot freshman from Natchez, led the Lady Eagles with 8assists and 3 steals.

Allen’s ballclub sacked 9-of-10 from the charity stripe duringthat stretch. Courtney Wade, a 6-foot freshmen center fromMeridian, pumped in 8 points during the run.

Meanwhile, Co-Lin missed 4-of-12 from the line, and committed 13of their game-high 31 turnovers during the same stretch.

“You can not win, making turnovers and missing free throws likethat,” said Young.

In the extra session, Young’s squad took a brief 76-73 lead on abasket by Natchez’s Crystal Brown. Meridian countered withsophomore forward Stephanie Douglas scoring 7 of the Lady Eagles’final 9 points to pull off the huge upset.

“Our girls gave a great effort,” added Allen. “They did not giveup.”

Douglas and Terry native Jasmine Lindsey each pumped in agame-high 20 points for the Lady Eagles. J.J. Huggins and Wadescored 12 points apiece. Wade had 8 rebounds, while Huggins pulleddown 7. Meridian held a 34-33 rebounding edge, and made 25turnovers.

Co-Lin’s Jessica Melton, a 5-foot-7 guard from Bogue Chitto,held team-high honors with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists;leading 5 Lady Wolves in double figures. Brown and Gloria Lewis had15 points each. Martin had 11 points before fouling out inovertime. Kristian McCray added 10.