Stigger Drops 26 as Warhawks Edge Tigers, 59-58
Booneville, MS — Calhoun women's basketball continued their strong play away from home Thursday night, edging Northeast Mississippi 59–58 to complete a season sweep of the Tigers in a tightly contested road battle.
The Warhawks entered the night having split their two games during the winter break, falling at Pellissippi State on December 16 before rebounding with a road win at Volunteer State on January 3, and faced a familiar opponent in the second leg of a home-and-home series. Last month in Decatur, Calhoun pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim a 72–62 win. Thursday's rematch proved just as competitive, with neither side willing to give ground.
The first half unfolded as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets through the opening 20 minutes. No lead grew larger than six points, and Calhoun carried a narrow four-point advantage into the locker room after a physical opening half.
Calhoun began to create separation in the third quarter by turning defense into offense. The Warhawks capitalized on Northeast turnovers, highlighted by two steals from Mekera Standridge that led directly to points on the other end. That push allowed Calhoun to extend its lead to seven heading into the final period.
Northeast responded with urgency in the fourth, chipping away possession by possession. The Tigers briefly surged ahead 58–57 with 1:07 remaining, setting up a dramatic finish. After a missed three-point attempt resulted in an offensive rebound, Calhoun used its final timeout with 12 seconds left to draw up a play. Out of the huddle, Jasmine Ervin delivered in the clutch, scoring a tough bucket inside to give the Warhawks a 59–58 lead. On the ensuing possession, Kamora Simpson sealed the win by coming up with a steal, denying Northeast a final shot attempt.
For the Warhawks, Gabrielle Stigger delivered a dominant all-around performance, finishing with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists while playing all 40 minutes. Kamora Simpson also filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in 32 minutes of action, while Victoria Pyles also scored in double figures.
Head Coach Candace Byrd praised her team's resolve in a hostile environment. "I'm really proud of how hard we fought tonight," Byrd said. "Northeast is a tough team and they made us work for everything. We've been emphasizing grit and toughness, and I'm glad we were able to show that and execute when the game got tight down the stretch."
The Warhawks (9-6) will now turn their attention to conference play, opening league action at home on Thursday, January 15, against Southern Union at 5:30 p.m.