#TCCBasketball: Eagle women fall at Gulf Coast State

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (January 28, 2017) – NJCAA No. 2/Region 8 No. 1 Gulf Coast State College avenged its only loss of the season on Saturday, defeating No. 11/No. 3 Tallahassee Community College, 78-62, in women's basketball action. 

Tallahassee (18-4) missed an opportunity to pull into a first-place tie with the Lady Commodores (22-1, 5-1) in the PC standings, instead dropping into sole possession of third-place behind idle Chipola College (3-2) and setting up a crucial showdown with the Indians on Tuesday. 

Tallahassee led 16-14 after one quarter on Saturday and 25-23 at the 3:58 mark of the second, primarily without the services of guard Lawriell Wilson, who was charged with three personal fouls in the first six minutes and didn't return until the start of the third quarter.

She finished with just eight points on 4-of-13 shooting. 

Gulf Coast State ended the first half on an 11-2 run and led 34-27 at the intermission. 

The Eagles scored only 11 points in the second quarter and the 62 total points marked the first time under 80 points in a game this season. 

Tallahassee pulled within five three times during the first five minutes of the third quarter but that's as close as it got. Gulf Coast State began to pull away with a 9-0 run to open up a 52-38 lead with 3:21 left in the quarter. 

The Eagles were still within reach entering the fourth, down only 54-46, and faced a nine-point deficit at the 7:28 mark before Gulf Coast State scored the next seven points to put the game away. 

Japonica James' double-double led Tallahassee – she had 19 points and 16 rebounds. Jas Hill finished with 14 points. 

Tallahassee and Chipola will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.