Stillman Athletics
Chris Megginson
BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – A trio of double-digit scorers led Stillman College to its first win of the season Friday night, 48-45, at Blue Mountain College.
De’Asia Marsh scored 15 to lead Stillman, while Brittany Washington hit four 3-pointers to score a dozen points. Zikira Williams added 10 points and six rebounds.
Zaria Jenkins scored on the Tigers’ first possession of the game, but Blue Mountain answered with a 10-2 run to build an early lead off a pair of Kandice Ricks 3-pointers. The Toppers lead grew to as many as eight points, 15-7, in the first quarter before Stillman took over.
Wimbish-Gay scored to close the first quarter and make it a six-point game, 15-9. The basket sparked a 17-0 run by Stillman, as the Tigers shut out Blue Mountain in the second quarter. Stillman led 24-15 at halftime.
Ricks and Mackenzie Lane pulled the margin within four points, 26-22, early in the second half, but another Washington 3-pointer helped keep some distance. Wimbish-Gay later hit a 3 late in the third quarter to keep it a six-point game, 34-28, with 10 minutes to play in the game.
Marsh scored five-straight to open the fourth quarter, building Stillman’s lead to 11 points, 39-28. Jade Wells responded with six points for BMC. Williams proved to be the Tigers’ go-to player late in the game, scoring three baskets in the final four minutes to keep Stillman in front, 45-40, with a minute left. Marsh hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left, Williams added one with seven seconds left to secure the win. Jada Taylor hit a 3 at the end of the game to bring Blue Mountain within three points.
Both teams shot between 33% and 35% from the floor and were balanced on the boards with BMC grabbing 36 rebounds to Stillman’s 35.
Ricks led Blue Mountain with 11 points on three 3-pointers. Lane added eight points and seven rebounds.
Stillman (1-4, 1-3 SSAC West) will return to action against Blue Mountain again on Saturday at 3 p.m. for a Southern States Athletic Conference West Division game.