WESSON – Despite shooting 61 percent in the second half, Northwest was unable to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit in falling to Jones County, 91-71, in the MACJC Tournament Quarterfinals at Co-Lin's Mullen Gymnasium Monday night.

Jones County improved to 17-6 and advances to the semifinals against Co-Lin on Wednesday. Northwest dropped to 18-6 and will have to await its seeding in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament March 4-7 in Clinton. It's the fourth time in four trips that JCJC has eliminated the Lady Rangers from state tournament play.

Northwest started the game out strong in jumping out to an 8-2 lead at the 15:28-mark, feeding the ball into the paint to Aspriona Gilbert who scored six early points.

But JCJC would respond with a 16-4 run over the ensuing 5 minutes to take its first lead at 18-12 and never looked back.

The Lady Bobcat lead quickly grew to 40-17 as Northwest went ice cold from the floor and missed nine consecutive field goal attempts. Gilbert's layup with 3:30 left in the half stopped a 6:26 drought from the floor.

Kristen Smith's 3-pointer with 9 seconds left in the half told the story of the opening 20 minutes, with JCJC coming up with a loose ball and finding a wide open Smith who gave the Lady Bobcats a 51-31 lead at the break.

Northwest shot just 25 percent while JCJC connected on 46 percent of its field goal attempts.

The JCJC lead grew to as many as 27 with just under 14 minutes to play, and as hard as the Lady Rangers kept fighting to cut into the large deficit, 17 points is as close as they would get down the stretch. 

Playing without its sixth man in Jacquelyn Brooks, Northwest had to battle through foul trouble all game and did not get the benefit of the whistle all night, with three players finishing with four fouls and Gilbert fouling out with 3:20 remaining.

Four Lady Rangers scored in double figures, led by Gilbert's 19 points and nine rebounds. Bethany Lytle had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Tekevanna Young added 13 points and Kristina Mays added 11.

Taylor Baudoin led four Lady Bobcat scorers in double figures with 26 points, on 8-of-15 shooting, and nine rebounds.

Northwest will learn of its Region 23 Tournament opponent at the conclusion of the state tournament Thursday night.