Strong Finish Helps Women's Basketball to Play-off Win

MSJC's Sharonda Edwards had game highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds on Friday as the Lady Eagle basketball team picked up a CCCAA Regional semi-final win at home over West LA 60-54. MSJC will travel to LA Trade Tech on Saturday March 9th to take on the Beavers in the Regional Final at 7 pm. (DeeAnn Bradley/MSJC)
MSJC's Sharonda Edwards had game highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds on Friday as the Lady Eagle basketball team picked up a CCCAA Regional semi-final win at home over West LA 60-54. MSJC will travel to LA Trade Tech on Saturday March 9th to take on the Beavers in the Regional Final at 7 pm. (DeeAnn Bradley/MSJC)
Posted: Mar 10, 2019

The MSJC women's basketball team needed a late rally on Friday night, and got one, as they won their 2nd round CCCAA Southern California Regional play-off game over visiting West LA 60-54.

The Lady Eagles seemed to be in control of the contest as they led by 7 at halftime 33-26. MSJC came out to start the third period and the teams went back and forth trading baskets with the Lady Eagles holding a 39-30 lead with five and half minutes to play in the period. The Wildcats then went on a 16-0 run to close the quarter with a 46-39 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. The turning point in the fourth came just one minute in as Raena Lasley hit a three point shot to close the gap to 48-44, a minute later Sharonda Edwards got a lay-up and MSJC was within two with 7:30 left in the game. The Lady Eagles regained the lead just 30 seconds later when Lasley hit another three pointer to give MSJC the 49-48 lead. After the teams traded the lead a couple of times, MSJC finally took the lead for good with 3 minutes to play when Edwards got a steal and took it the length of the floor for a lay-up to give the Lady Eagles a 53-52 lead. A basket by Kaelee Kelly followed and then 5 for 6 shooting from the free throw line by Britney Neely sealed the win for MSJC.

Edwards finished the night with a game high 23 points and a game high 11 rebounds. Lasley finished the game with 11 points including 8 in the fourth quarter. Neely and Alyssa Walton both ended the contest with 10 points a piece. The Lady Eagles biggest advantage of the night was on the boards as they out rebounded the Wildcats 54-30.

The win moves the defending state champion Lady Eagles into the Regional Finals on Saturday night when they will travel to LA Trade Tech. MSJC, who is now 24-6 on the year, will be trying to advance to their​ fourth State Elite Eight in the past seven years. Trade Tech will enter Saturday night's game with a record of 27-4, they were the champions of the South Coast Conference's North Division. Saturday night's game at Trade Tech will tip-off at 7 pm.