CLINTON – Guard Latoria Holder produced a career-high 33 pointsWednesday night, directing the Co-Lin Lady Wolves to a 78-59trouncing of the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles in thesemifinals of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Holder’s performancepushed Co-Lin (26-3) into tonight’s title game against EastMississippi.

Tipoff is 6 p.m. in Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.EMCC upset state champion Jones County Junior College 76-73 lastnight.

Tonight’s men’s title game sends Gulf Coast (18-9) againstHolmes (18-9) tonight at 8. Gulf Coast eliminated Itwamba 74-69 andHolmes knocked off East Miss. 77-67 in the semifinals.

Tonight’s champions advance to the NJCAA National Tournaments inKansas, men in Hutchinson and women in Salina.

Holder, a 5-foot-8 freshman sharpshooter from Lumberton, made 5of 6 field goals from 3-point range and 11 of 18 overall. She made6 of 7 free throws as Co-Lin shot 47 percent from the field and 79percent from the free throw line.

“We played very good and we were well prepared by Coach (Gwyn)Young,” said Holder. “We showed patience and ran our offense. Myteammates hustled the whole game and we played good defense.”

Holder also had 5 assists and 4 steals in the win.

Young, in his 33rd year at Co-Lin, is one win away from takingthe Lady Wolves to the Nationals. They finished sixth in the 2007tourney.

“We played really well on defense,” said Young. “We attackedtheir press and executed on offense.

“Holder had a good game for us and (Rachel) Vigers and (Shareka)Hunt also played a good game.”

Hunt, a freshman from Meadville, collected 11 points and 10rebounds in the victory. Vigers, a freshman from Baton Rouge, La.,accounted for 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Meridian coach Hillary Allen said Co-Lin played extremely well.”They played a different style of game than anyone else. Co-Lin hasso many weapons.

“We struggled from the beginning and couldn’t keep the gameclose,” Allen noted. “My players played hard but Co-Lin playedharder.”

Meridian (22-9), returning to an independent status after a fewyears in the MACJC, got 14 points from Tiara Parker, a 5-6sophomore guard from Meridian. Tiara Logan, a 5-6 freshman fromPhiladelphia, added 12 points and 5 rebounds.

East Miss. 76, Jones Co. 73

The Lady Lions got 23 points from Martika Hull and 17 fromKottia White in the win over Jones County. Leading JCJC was TeannaCarter with 19 points and Demara Bolton with 15.

Gulf Coast 74, Itawamba 69

Twenty-six points by guard Justin Ray led the Bulldogs overItawamba. Cordell Pope had 13 points.

Itawamba was led by Gary Dixon’s 16 points. Jason Marks had15.

Holmes 77, East Miss. 67

Al Graham and Jeremy Lightfoot each had 13 points in the winover EMCC. Coco Ware scored 16 points and Woodie Howard 15 for thelosers.