Mississippi Gulf Coast has been focusing on its defense, trying to use the effort on that end to prime the offensive pump.

It worked to great effect Thursday night, with the women holding Hinds to a miniscule point total on the way to a 57-37 victory in Utica.

"We've really been concentrating on that the second half of the season," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "I feel like if we play good defense, it feeds our offense. It did that tonight, for sure."

Gulf Coast (4-7, 3-7 MACCC South) has won three of its last four games, including an 89-80 win in overtime against Hinds exactly a week prior.

Hinds falls to 0-8, 0-8.

The Bulldogs were led offensively by TK Catchings (Fr., New Hebron/Simpson Academy), who matched her season high from the previous game with 16 points.

"TK is starting to get more comfortable," Adams said. "She was 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. She's so powerful inside, she can draw a lot of fouls."

Aniya Saddler (Fr., Columbus/Columbus) had 12 points, and Alisha Tucker (Fr., McComb/McComb) had nine.

Gulf Coast is back on the road Monday, but it's a short trip. The Bulldogs head 26 miles west to Poplarville to take on archrival Pearl River. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.

by: Don Hammack
Sports Information Director
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College