MERIDIAN, MS – Meridian Community College shook off a slow start to secure a 65-59 win over East Central in a pivotal conference matchup on Monday night.

The Lady Eagles (11-11, 3-4 conference) found themselves in an early hole as the Lady Warriors (4-12, 0-6 conference) came out strong, opening the game on a 16-4 run. Meridian struggled to find its rhythm early, trailing 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.

However, Meridian came out firing in the second quarter, igniting a dominant 12-0 run and outscoring East Central 20-4 in the quarter. By halftime, the Lady Eagles had taken control with a 30-23 lead.

The Lady Warriors made a push in the third quarter, looking to cut into the deficit, but Meridian remained steady and carried a nine-point advantage into the final frame. The Lady Eagles then put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to as much as 15 points before sealing the 65-59 victory.

Terica Smith led the charge for Meridian with 13 points, while Timia Washington added 11 in the win.

Next up, the Lady Eagles hit the road to face Hinds on Thursday, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.