The East Central Community College Lady Warriors never trailed on Tuesday night as the team wiped off a five-game losing streak with a dominant 64-43 win over the Hinds Bulldogs in Decatur. With the win, the Lady Warriors moved to 4-8 overall and to 1-2 in MACCC play while the Lady Bulldogs dropped to 2-11, 1-3. 

The Lady Warriors set the tone early in the contest as ECCC built up a 17-3 lead in the first quarter of play. The score was the result of great passing and vision on the offensive end of the floor with several baskets from Faith Guy, Mady Buckley, Lexus Keyes, and Kamyia Russell. On the defensive end, the Lady Warriors locked down Hinds and crashed the boards to limit second-chance opportunities.

Led by Lia Smith, the Hinds Lady Bulldogs came to life in the second frame as they netted 15 points, but the damage was limited as East Central continued to get to the rim offensively. Jacey Cooper and Kennedee Shelton made some key shots early in the quarter to help the Lady Warriors take a 30-18 lead into the locker room. 

Midway through the third, Hinds clawed back and cut the lead to single digits, 34-26, but ECCC responded with a 12-4 run to close out the third quarter in control. The lead exploded to as many as 22 in the fourth quarter, 52-30, as the Lady Warriors ran away with the 64-43 victory. 

ECCC shot 48 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc, while posting 64 percent from the free throw line. Keyes led ECCC with a career-high 20 points and seven assists. Kaedre Denson added 10 points and five assists, while Russell posted nine points and a team-best seven rebounds off the bench. Hinds shot just 26 percent from the floor, 13 percent from three-point range, and 43 percent from the stripe. 

Smith led Hinds with 17 points, while Tra'Shaylah Wilson scored 10. 

ECCC is on the road this Thursday, January 19 as the team travels to Itawamba to face the Lady Indians at 5:30 p.m. That game can be seen live at letsgoicctv.com.