PELLISSIPPI, SOUTHWEST ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS

The TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII basketball tournament got off to a fast start for the women as both Pellissippi State and Southwest Tennessee secured victories in the playin games on Friday afternoon.  Pellissippi held on to defeat Volunteer by a 55-51 final which advances them in to Saturday's quarterfinals versus the #1 seed Lady Senators of Walters State.  The host team, Southwest Tennessee, went up 25-11 in the first quarter on their way to an 89-70 win.  They advance to Saturday to take on the #2 seed Lady Chargers of Columbia State. 

In the first game of the afternoon, Volunteer hit two late three pointers in the first quarter for a 15-11 lead.  Pellissippi took control of the game by outscoring their opponents 16-3 lead for a 27-18 lead at the break.  Volunteer would get back in the game during the fourth quarter before Pelliossippi hit free throws down the stretch for the win.

Alice Meunier led the Lady Panthers in scoring with 21 points as well as pulling down a team high 17 rebounds and six steals.  Autumn Crick also reached double figures with 17 poionts to go with six boards.  Ashley Crick was second in rebounds with nine.  Maria Braga led the team with four assists.  Tishana Moore and Skylar McMillan each scored 12 points to lead the Lady Pioneers.  Kendall Myree led the team with 14 rebounds while Ella Disney had fou assists.  Moore had a team high four steals. 

In the second game, Southwest shot out to the 14 point lead after the first quarter.  The next three quarters were played pretty even as both teams settled in to the flow of the game although Southwest wqould see their lead grow to as high 25 points midway through the third quarter.  

Jamiyah Jones led the Lady Saluquis with 33 points.  Wuynter Beck and Jaliyah Zackery also reached double figures with 24 and 13 points.  Zackery had a team high 14 rebounds and Beck had six boards to go with a team high 11 assists.  Jones had three steals to go with her team high four steals.The Lady Bucks had three reach double figures led by Malay Mitchell with 25 points.  Raven Parks and and Yareli Avalos were next with 20 and 11 points.  Avalos led the squad with nine rebounds while Remington Benjamin had four assists.  Mitchell also had three assists.