SUMMIT – Forward Brandi Simmons is the only returning starterfor Co-Lin’s Lady Wolves and she realizes the importance of herposition. The 5-foot-11 sophomore provided her team with agame-high 16 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday, sparking No. 4-rankedCo-Lin to a 66-53 victory over Northwest in the Southwest Coca-ColaClassic in Horace C. Holmes Gymnasium.

The Lady Wolves (2-0) make their first home floor appearance of theseason Thursday night, hosting Itawamba Community College. The gametips off at 5:30 p.m. in Mullen Gymnasium, 30 minutes earlier thannormal.

“I’m trying to be a leader,” said Simmons, a Jackson Murrahproduct. “If we can get it together, we can be a good team. We haveto play hard on defense and keep working to improve.”

Simmons was joined in double digits by freshman playmaker KeoshaBradley’s 14 points, plus 4 assists. Sophomore transfers SedrekaPlummer and JaQuandria (GG) Williams tossed in 10 pointsapiece.

Co-Lin women’s coach Gwyn Young was happy to beat Northwest but hesaw much room for improvement. Under the latest cost-cuttingmeasures initiated by the MACJC, basketball and softball teams arenot allowed to scrimmage other schools, either junior or seniorcolleges, prior to the season.

“It wasn’t pretty,” said Young, noting his team’s 25 turnovers.”Our shooting percentage (50 percent) was pretty good but it couldhave been better if we had executed on offense. We need to work onour defense, too.”

Northwest (0-2), a Monday loser to Southwest, got 9 points fromBrittany Patton. The Rangers trailed 29-21 at halftime.