Lady Indians capture Region 23 Championship in dominating fashion

Lady Indians capture Region 23 Championship in dominating fashion
Lee Adams/LetsGoICC.com

CLINTON, MS – The Itawamba Community College Lady Indians controlled the Region 23 Championship battle from the opening tip as they defeated the Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats 84-64 to earn their second Region 23 title in three years.

Sophomore forward Kaelin Kneeland (Olive Branch) scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for her fourteenth double-double of the season. Kneeland dominated the boards early picking up seven first half rebounds that led to several baskets to propel the Lady Indians to a 37-19 lead at halftime.

The Lady Indians (23-4) continued to control the championship contest extending their lead to as much as 23 in the final frame. Kneeland continued to be a presence under the basket, and picked up offensive help in a big way from guards Jayla Chills (Ripley), Jeronia Allen (Minden, LA) and Alontra Tucker (Lamar). The trio got hot from the field, accounting for 27 points, and keeping the Lady Indians up by 20 points for the majority of the second half.

The Lady Indians didn't have their best shooting performance at 39.2 percent, but their defense stepped up holding the Lady Bobcats 38.8 percent from the floor, forcing 20 turnovers and winning the rebound battle 44-34. The cliche of defense wins championships held true Saturday night as they Lady Indians picked up the 20 point victory and the Region 23 title.

Chills scored 18 points, followed by Allen with 16 and Tucker with 13. Chills and Kneeland were both named to the All-Region 23 Team.

The Lady Indians will travel to Salina, KS for the NJCAA National Tournament that begins March 16.

For more information on ICC women's basketball, follow the Indians on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).