SUMMIT – The Southwest Lady Bears picked up a huge 79-65 MACJC South Division win Thursday night over visiting the Meridian Lady Eagles. In doing so, the Lady Bears moved into a third-place tie with Meridian and Jones County and remained in the thick of the hunt for a spot in next month’s state tournament.

In the men’s contest, Jaylen Moore’s season-high 34 points directed the Southwest Bears past the Eagles, 71-62, Thursday night to sweep the season series. The win moved the Bears into a third-place tie with Mississippi Gulf Coast in the MACJC’ South Division and kept them in the chase for a spot in the upcoming state tournament.

Southwest returns to the court Monday when they travel to Perkinston to face the Mississippi Gulf Coast Lady Bulldogs. The women will tipoff at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 7:30.

Southwest 79, Meridian 65 

Things did not look promising for the Lady Bears early as the Meridian’s Lady Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Gabriella Cortez’ jumper made it 7-2 with 15:58 left in the opening half.

Trailing 15-6, the Lady Bears (10-9, 6-4) moved to within two points, 23-21, on Teshia Jones’ bucket with 5:32 on the clock. But the Lady Eagles were able to maintain control and take a 34-30 lead into the locker room at the break.

An Eyonna Wolfe three pointer gave the Lady Bears their first lead of the night, 35-34, with 19:42 left in the game. The Lady Eagles (13-7, 6-4) quickly answered and took a 36-35 lead with 19:28 to play. That would prove to be their last lead of the night as the Lady Bears took the lead for good, 38-36, when Cortney Epting nailed a three pointer with 17:19 remaining.

A basket from Jones gave the Lady Bears a double-figure lead, 56-45, with 9:50 to play and they later pushed their advantage to 16 points, 75-59, on a Cortez three pointer. They then went on to the 14-point victory.

Cortez led the Lady Bears, and all scorers, with 23 points in the game. She added nine rebounds. Epting picked up a double-double, recording 16 points and 10 assists. Talisa Sherman and Jones were also in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Madison Mault added nine points for the Lady Bears. Lillie Snowden scored six and Wolfe added three. The Lady Bears made 10 of 13 free throws.

Southwest 71, Meridian 62 

The Eagles managed to keep the Bears at bay during the first half, taking an early 6-0 and going up by as many as nine points, 25-16, with 8:15 on the clock.

The Bears (8-10, 5-5), at that point, seemed to find their footing. Led by Moore’s eight points, the Bears outscored the Eagles 17-9 to close out the first half and pull to within one point, 34-33, at the end of the first 20:00.

Outscoring the Eagles 7-0 to open the second half, the Bears took a 40-34 lead with 17:20 left in the game. The teams then spent the next 10:00 minutes trading baskets and the lead.

Trailing by one, 52-51, with 8:55 to play, a Moore three pointer and Cliff Fernandez layup served as bookends to a 10-0 Bears’ run that put them ahead 61-52 with 6:21 on the clock.

Leading 63-58 with 1:07 to go, the Bears outscored the Eagles 8-4, going 8-10 from the free throw line down the stretch, and ended the game with a nine-point win.

Moore added 10 rebounds to finish the night with a double-double (he also had six assists). Lafayette Rutledge also scored in double figures with 11 points.

Dillon added nine points for the Bears while Trent Jeffries scored seven and Chris McIntosh six. Fernandez and C. J. Polite both netted two points. The Bears made 22 of 29 free throws.

Brandon Daniels led the visitors with 25 points on the night. The Eagles (8-10, 2-8) hit 17 of 27 free throws.