From Special Reports
SELMA, Ala. — Junior guard Qiayon Bailey had 22 points Tuesday night to lead the Mississippi University for Women women’s basketball team to a 72-43 victory against Selma University in its regular-season finale.
The W men dropped an 89-88 decision to Selma in the nightcap in their season finale.
Bailey, a former standout at West Point High School, was 9-for-12 from the field to lead The W (18-6), which will await the release of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Championship tournament schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The W has been near or at the top of the rankings all season.
Junior center Keyahna Jones had 13 points and 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double, while Starlandria Walton had 17 points. The W turned 12 Selma turnovers into 16 points. The Owls also had a 34-16 edge in points in the paint.
“We played as a team tonight,” The W coach Howard White Jr. said. “We were focused on both ends of the floor. We did a great job attacking the paint and getting the shots we wanted. Defensively, we thought outside the box and really took them out of what they wanted to do offensively. Overall, we played our style of basketball.”
In the men’s game, Tavonta Jones scored 21 points and grabbed four rebounds, but The W fell short.
Selma hit two free throws with less than 14 seconds to take an 89-87 lead. With five seconds left, The W’s Keith Harris made 1 of 2 free throws. Jones recovered the rebound, but a 3-pointer by Harris was blocked out of bounds. A 3-pointer by Tre Pinkston bounced off the rim to end the game.
Coming off the bench, Shon Wright had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Pinkston and Carlos Wilkerson had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for The W (7-18).
After falling behind 30-19, The W used an 11-1 run to take its first lead, 41-40. Selma led 42-41 at halftime, which set the stage for a second half that saw the teams stay within five points of each other the rest of the way.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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