Stephens Delivers Late Heroics as Lady Eagles Outlast Mississippi Delta, 85–81
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
16 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 81 |
|
|
25 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 85 |
Team Stats
Mississippi Delta Community College
Meridian Community College
| Game Statistics | Mississippi Delta Community College | Meridian Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (30-45) | (32-56) |
| Field Goal % | 66.7% | 57.1% |
| Rebounds | 21 | 23 |
| Assists | 5 | 18 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 21 |
MERIDIAN, Miss. – The Meridian Community College women's basketball team delivered a thrilling home victory Tuesday night, edging Mississippi Delta Community College 85–81 inside Graham Gymnasium to improve to 14–3 overall and 2–1 in MACCC play.
Meridian came out aggressive early, building momentum in the opening quarter and taking a 25–16 lead over the Lady Trojans. The pace stayed fast in the second quarter as both teams found success offensively, with the Lady Eagles carrying a 45–37 advantage into halftime.
Freshman Ashlynn Stephens led the way at the break with 13 first-half points, setting the tone for what would become a standout performance.
Mississippi Delta made its push in the third quarter, trimming the deficit and closing within 65–61 heading into the final period. The fourth quarter lived up to the hype, featuring multiple lead changes and a tense back-and-forth battle. With just 35 seconds remaining, Meridian trailed 81–80.
That's when Stephens stepped up in the biggest moment, drilling a clutch three-pointer to swing the momentum and secure the win for the Lady Eagles in front of the home crowd.
Stephens finished with 26 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while sophomore Terica Smith added 21 points and sophomore Nataysia Willis chipped in 16. Meridian dressed just eight players for the contest, with most starters logging heavy minutes throughout the night.
Head Coach Jocelyn McGilberry praised her team's effort and leadership after the game.
"It's always good to win at home," McGilberry said. "With the injuries we've dealt with, we've relied heavily on our starters to lead, and they did exactly that tonight."
The Lady Eagles will continue conference play Thursday, traveling to Scooba, Miss., for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against East Mississippi Community College.
For video highlights from the win over Mississippi Delta, visit:
https://youtu.be/hL4QeKiU2gc
For game photos, visit the gallery at:
https://mcceagles.com/sports/wbkb/2025-26/photos/0006/index
Follow the Eagles:
Stay connected with Meridian Community College Athletics on X (@mcceaglessports), Instagram (@mcceaglesathletics_), and Facebook (Meridian Community College Athletics), and visit mcceagles.com for schedules, rosters, and stories.
