PENSACOLA, Fla. — Despite a strong start and steady fight, Pearl River couldn't slow No. 6 Gulf Coast State's firepower Friday, falling 83–58 in its Pensacola opener.
"It's tough when you play teams that can score the way they do. They can score at every position and shoot it well, but we competed and came out prepared and ready to play," head coach Shanae Govan-Williams said. "I think we fought until the end, and that's all you can ask for. We executed well, and there were a lot of learning moments from this game. We see what we have to do and where we have to be to compete with the best."
The game opened with Pearl River (6–3) and Gulf Coast State (11–1) trading baskets before settling into a 6–6 tie, highlighted by a Madison Hughes (Olive Branch; Center Hill) 3-pointer and a Cy'Nara Robinson (McGehee, Ark.) layup. Gulf Coast State answered with an 11–0 run to take a 17–6 lead. Atesa Johnson (Lewisville, Ark.; Lafayette) broke the stretch with a jumper, and Jahanna Wilson (Jackson, Miss.; Callaway) added a 3-pointer to send the Wildcats into the second quarter trailing 21–11.
Pearl River opened the next period with a 3-pointer from Mattison Bell (Philadelphia; Choctaw Central) to cut the deficit to 21–14. After another Wildcats bucket, a free throw and a layup from Gulf Coast State pushed the margin to 24–18. Moments later, an Alana Smith (Southaven) 3-pointer pulled Pearl River within three at 26–23, following two Wilson free throws.
Coming out of a media timeout, Robinson scored on a layup, and Jae'la Smith (Vicksburg; Porter's Chapel) knocked down a jumper. Gulf Coast mixed in several baskets of its own before Wilson hit another jumper and the Wildcats added two free throws, heading into halftime down 42–30.
Robinson, Bell and Robinson again—this time from beyond the arc—scored early in the third to trim the deficit to 46–36. The Commodores responded by using their size advantage to fuel a 17–5 run, pushing the lead to 63–43 before Robinson halted the run with another jumper. Gulf Coast State added five more points to end the quarter ahead 68–43.
Pearl River matched Gulf Coast State in the fourth, with both teams scoring 15. Genea McAllister (Tupelo) led the Wildcats in the final frame with six points on three jumpers. Gulf Coast State closed out the win, 83–58.
LEADING THE WAY
Robinson led Pearl River in scoring, finishing with 16 points along with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
Wilson followed with 10 points, adding five rebounds and a team-high seven assists to spark the Wildcats' offense. Hughes was next on the scoresheet with nine points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Bell paced the Wildcats on the boards, pulling down six rebounds while contributing five points and two steals.
NEXT UP
Pearl River will stay in Pensacola to face hosts Pensacola College at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
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