Mississippi College

The Mississippi College women's tennis program opened the 2021 season Saturday afternoon taking the 7-0 sweep over Blue Mountain College. Looking forward to a great season, they have announced their roster for the 2021-22 school year.

Dylan Gilbert is a junior at Mississippi College majoring in Accounting. He utilized Career Services for mock interview and resume assistance.

Mississippi College recently kicked off their season at the Gulf Shores Invitational. Looking forward to a great season, they have announced their roster for the upcoming season.

Dakota Murphree dreams of one day becoming a minister, serving as a Baptist Student Union director, and owning an actual ranch that could be used as a retreat center for local churches. Hannah Quigley, president of the BSU at Mississippi College, aims to serve the Lord in whatever ministry He leads her to in the future. Murphree, a senior business administration major, and Quigley, a senior Christian Studies major, credit Mississippi College for helping set them on the path to achieving their long-term ministerial goals. They each shared their testimonies with high-ranking leaders of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and presidents and administrators of Blue Mountain College, MC, and William Carey University during the Education Commission meeting Jan. 14. Originally scheduled for the Clinton campus, the event took place virtually in deference to the rise in Omicron variant COVID-19 cases throughout the state. The Commission cultivates the interest of Mississippi Baptists on behalf of Christian higher education, strengthens the colleges of Mississippi Baptists and unifies their efforts in the Convention program of Christian higher education, and makes recommendations through the Convention Board to the Convention concerning all cooperative efforts in the field of Christian higher education, among other responsibilities. The pair of MC students is actually a couple: Murphree and Quigley have been dating for several months, and the prospect of a future professing the Lord's saving grace together strengthens their hopes - and their commitment to each other. "I'm so thankful the Lord has been able to use our very new relationship," said Murphree, who serves as vice president of the BSU. "Someone told me one time, whoever you decide to marry, you need to be able to do ministry better with them than do ministry without them. "Being able to know the Lord is able to use us and our relationship for His glory in a bigger way is something I thank Him for often." Murphree told the commission he was in his last semester studying business at Hinds Community College when he felt called to go into the ministry. A meeting at church on his last Sunday at Hinds helped lead him to Mississippi College. "I met Wes Wroten, the college pastor at First Baptist Church Clinton, and made friends with him and other MC students," Murphree said. "I went to MC's BSU, I did a lot of praying, I talked to a lot of people, and I decided to go into Christian Studies at MC." That decision came with a formidable obstacle for Murphree: how to afford his continuing education. "I didn't know how I was going to pay for it," he said. "I prayed, 'Lord, I felt like You called me to come here, but I don't exactly know how.' But the Lord provided for me to be here." Through scholarships and other financial assistance opportunities, Murphree was able to attend MC. He now serves as an intern for Wroten at First Baptist Church. "What the Lord has been able to do through my life is incredible," Murphree said. "I'm blessed with a Christian community and good friends who are important to me spiritually. "I've been able to speak with pastors about my call to the ministry. This University has propped me up and prepared me to be not only an efficient addition to the workforce, but also a disciple." He said his interest in ranching stems from his background. Hailing from the rural town of Vardaman, Murphree served as president of the Mississippi student chapter of Future Farmers of America while he was in high school. "I've always loved engaging with God's creation in a lot of ways," he said. "Wanting a ranch, I have the desire to provide for others, my community, and my family, and also to possibly use it for ministry. It sounds so exciting. "MC is a great institution. The professors are very knowledgeable in their field, but also, the community and the institution are built on a foundation of following the will of God. You see that when you go to class devotionals, when you go to events on campus, in what your friends talk about. It definitely prepares you for going out and doing ministry." He concluded his presentation by quoting Philippians 1: 20-21: "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (NIV) A native of Meridian, Quigley told the commission she surrendered her life to the Lord at 12 when she recognized that she was living in a broken world. "I had some bitterness towards my home life," Quigley said, "but after meeting the Lord, He turned that bitterness into peace and joy, and I have been so blessed to live with Him ever since." Referencing the Great Commission, she said one of the biggest testaments to the Lord's faithfulness in her life occurred during her freshman year at MC. "I had never been discipled before," she said, "but an upperclassman decided to pour into me and other freshmen girls and teach us how to make disciples of all nations as we are called to in Matthew 28." A biology pre-med major at the time, Quigley said she felt the Lord calling her to give her life to ministry. "I was terrified of this, because I did not think I was equipped for such a task," she admitted. "But I eventually decided to step out in faith and trust that the Lord would provide and guide me through. He sure did!" She switched her major to Christian Studies and never looked back. Currently a student intern at Wynndale Baptist Church, she is an avid participant in summer mission trips and Christian youth camps. "The (Christian Studies) professors have been nothing short of phenomenal," she said. "They've taught me so much about ministry and the Scriptures and have given me life advice about working in churches. "The BSU on campus has also played a huge role in my spiritual growth. They welcomed me in my freshman year and challenged me to seek the Lord during my time at college. I have the awesome privilege of serving as their president this year, and it has been amazing to see how God has used our ministry to further His kingdom." She said Mississippi College has equipped her with all the tools she needs to be successful in spreading the good news about Christ. "Not only has MC prepared me for ministry now, but I believe wholeheartedly that the time I have spent here at MC has definitely prepared me for whatever ministry I find myself in the future," she said.

The Mississippi College Office of Academic Affairs releases the dean's list after the close of fall and spring semesters each academic year. To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must maintain a 3.5 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. The student must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average.

The Mississippi College Office of Academic Affairs releases the president's list after the close of fall and spring semesters each academic year. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must maintain a 4.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. The student must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average.

The Mississippi College Office of Academic Affairs releases the dean's list after the close of fall and spring semesters each academic year. To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must maintain a 3.5 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. The student must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average.

The Mississippi College women's basketball team snatched the University of West Georgia's dream of a come-from-behind win as MC (10-8, 5-6 Gulf South Conference) hit key 3-pointers to win 78-70 in The Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 29. UWG falls to 6-9 and 3-7 in the conference. The victory gives Mississippi College its first win in program history in the "City of Dreams" and its second straight win in the series. Four Choctaws scored in double figures led by Kyiah Julian with 15 points. The Greenwood, Ark., native was 3-for-5 from behind the arc and knocked down 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to assist in her scoring output in the game. Alana Canady added a double-double - her first as a Choctaw - as she tied for second on the team in points with 14 and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. It's the second double-double of her career as she scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down 10 boards during her time at the University of Central Arkansas. Ally Alford joined Canady with 14 points in the contest while Tamarah Sykes poured in a career-high 12 points. Sykes missed her third double-double of the season as she added eight rebounds, which tied Amelia Bell for second on the team. The Navy and Gold shot 36.4 percent from the 3-point line in the contest, a 40.6 clip from the field in the game and finished with 70.0 percent from the free-throw line, including 8-for-10 during the final 10 minutes. MC outrebounded the Wolves 47-33 on the glass. "This was probably our biggest team win in my two seasons at Mississippi College," said head coach Greg Long. "These ladies showed a lot of maturity tonight in a tough place to play. We got big-time minutes from multiple people and out depth helped us out. Now we have to turn our attention toward a tough squad on Monday." The Choctaws, which much of the contest, clung a 51-48 after the first 30 minutes of action, but witnessed the Red and Blue erase the margin and grab its first lead since the 2:17 mark of the opening quarter as Jaylin Austin knocked down the backend of a pair of free throws. The Wolves expanded their advantage to as many as four points in the period, but Sykes converted on an old-fashion, 3-point play to give the Choctaws a 66-65 lead and the visitors from the Magnolia State never looked back. MC closed out the final period on a 15-6 run. The win completes a season sweep and the second in the month of the Wolves.

The Mississippi College Office of Academic Affairs releases the president's list after the close of fall and spring semesters each academic year. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must maintain a 4.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. The student must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team extended its win streak to three games as it holds off Auburn University at Montgomery, 50-47, on Monday, Jan. 31. MC improved to 11-8 and 6-6 in Gulf South Conference action. The Warhawks fall to 6-10 and 1-9 in the league. The Navy and Gold held a 44-30 advantage after the first three quarters, but knocked down key free throws to ice the contest as AUM outscored the Choctaws 17-6 in the final period. "A win is a win and I'm glad we got out of there tonight with this one," said head coach Greg Long. "We once again had big-time plays when we needed them tonight. It was a total team effort and we are continue to show how deep we are this year." Ally Alford and Tamarah Sykes paced the scoring efforts for the Choctaws, who gain a 3-2 advantage in the series. Alford led the team with 13 points. It's her 11th consecutive game in double figures and 13th on the campaign. Sykes notched her team-best, third double-double of the season. The Aberdeen, Miss., native scored 11 points and added a team and career-high 12 rebounds coming off the bench. Amelia Bell a season-high five blocks in the contest as she led the defensive unit. MC recorded nine blocked shots in the game. MC shot 27.6 percent from the field in the game and connected on 65.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Choctaws recorded 49 rebounds in the outing. The Choctaws grabbed their largest lead of the game, 46-30, early in the final period on a driving layup from Kayla Bradley. AUM clipped the double-digit deficit to single digits midway through the quarter on a DeMaurea Moore layup. The Warhawks pulled within one point on a Allasha Dudley bucket, but Alford and Bradley each knocked down a free throw during the final seven ticks to hold off the charge. Catlin Carter led AUM with 15 points while Tamia Willingham pulled down seven boards. The Orange and Black hit 31.7 percent from the floor, but struggled from behind the arc with a 12.5 clip. They connected on 77.8 percent from the stripe and totaled 39 rebounds. The Choctaws held a slim, three-point advantage after the first 10 minutes of play, but increased their margin as they outscored AUM 34-23 over the next two quarters to gain the double figure lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Mississippi College indoor track and field programs recorded a strong weekend at the University of South Carolina Invitational on Friday, January 28th and Saturday, January 29th. The Choctaws combined for eight school records and three event titles against a field that featured 16 Division I programs. Al Ferrill and Jazmin Hernandez each made history in their performances. Ferrill finished second in the men's shot put as he broke his school record with a throw of 16.06 meters. He became the first Choctaw in program history to break 16 meters indoors. Hernandez breaks her school record in the mile. The Georgetown, Texas, native posted a time of 4:53.75 as she finished fourth in the event. She becomes the first Choctaw to break the five-minute mark in program history. MC also picked up a sweep in the distance medley relays with both the men's and women's teams picking up the titles and also setting school-records. The men's team consisting of Cole Benoit, Gabe Hodson, Jake Russell, and Hunter Kurz picked up the title with a time of 9:47.93. Their time also marked the third fastest time in Division II this season. The women's relay time won the title and set the school-record with a time of 11:55.71. The women's relay team consisted of Kathy Hammond, Ereyonna Gore, Emma Langley, and Hernandez. Their time marked the fourth fastest time in Division II this year. Cole Benoit added a school record time of 8:07.67 in the men's 3,000 meters. The time nabbed him the fourth-fastest time in Division II this season along with a fifth-place finish in the event. Fabio Palmieri joined the school-record breakers as he finished second in the men's 400 meters. Palmieri clocked a 48.05. Also, in the sprints, Shemar Patten posted a school-record time of 8.15 in the men's 60 hurdles to qualify for the finals. He finished eighth in the finals with a time of 8.21. Palmieri picked up his 2nd school-record of the weekend in the invite section of the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.52, which was good for 5th in the event. It also set an indoor PR. Tytavia Hardy set a school record in the women's 60 hurdles qualifying round with a time of 8.66, which grabbed her second place. She clocked an 8.84 in the preliminaries to finish 12th, but not advance to the event finals. Hardy continued to impress on Saturday as she picked up a top five finish in the women's Triple Jump with a distance of 12.07 meters. Christian Balcer and Gabe Poulin also put in strong showings in the men's 5K on Saturday as the pair finished in the top two spots with Balcer picking up the event title with a time of 14:33.37. This was also a PR for Balcer. Poulin finished second with a time of 14:34.68 A pair of Choctaws finished in the top five of the mile. Hunter Kurz led the duo with a second-place finish as he clocked a time of 4:07.72. Balcer turned in a time of 4:10.96 as he finished fifth in the event. Ferrill also picked up another top five finish on Saturday as he finished fourth with a distance of 16.58 meters. Wesley Gibbs picked up a top five finish in the men's 800 meter as he ran a 1:53.28 to finish fourth. Kathy Hammond finished seventh in the women's 3,000 with a personal-record time of 10:14.22. Brock Kelly posted a PR time of 8:31.86 in the men's 3K to finish 10th. Emma Langley picked up a tenth place finish in the women's 800 meter on Saturday as she had a time of 2:16.69. Leslie Baxter also picked up a PR as she finished 18th in the event with a time of 2:19.71. Ezra McCaw finished 16th in the women's 200 meter dash on Saturday with a time of 25.49. Gore also finished 16th in the women's 400 meter with a time of 59.10.

One of the nation's leading professional governmental societies has chosen a pair of Mississippi College accounting and finance double majors to participate in a prestigious leadership program. The Association of Government Accountants has selected Kaitlyn Dortch, a senior from Canton, and Kaylee Foster, a junior from Ocean Springs, for its National Collegiate Leadership Program. They are among only 10 scholars nationwide to be designated for the scholarship program that provides students the opportunity to engage with and learn from leaders in government financial management at the AGA's annual National Leadership Training event Feb. 23-24 in Washington, D.C.

Jacob Beard is a senior majoring in Biological Pre-Medical Science. He has been accepted into Medical School at UMMC.

Gracie Phillips is a junior member of MC Honors College majoring in Business Administration. She practiced mock interviews and received assistance with her resume from Career Services at Mississippi College.

Jamesia Kenney is a graduate student in the Biomedical Sciences department. She utilized Career Services to practice mock medical school interviews.

Sanders Goode has been accepted into UMMC Medical School. Goode is a Biological Pre-Medical senior who utilized Career Services for mock interview and resume assistance.

Kaitlin Stewart is a senior majoring Psychology. Stewart has been accepted into the MAC Programed at RTS.

Josi Hill is a senior Public Relations major. She utilized Career Services for mock interview and resume assistance.

Mississippi College's Ally Alford is the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week Presented by TicketSmarter, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, Jan. 11. It is the third award this season for Alford. The Batesville, Miss., native posted a team-high 23 points as she hit 5-of-9 from behind the arc and 8-for-15 from the floor in a 73-51 win over the University of West Georgia on Saturday, Jan. 8. She also tied for tops on the team with seven rebounds, which matched a season-high. It is the fifth time this season Alford has led the team in scoring - the most by any Choctaw - and her fourth game with 20-plus points. The 23 points is her second highest total this season behind her high of 27 points set on Dec. 18 against Union. Alford is the first Choctaw to garner this accolade in the GSC and she joins a list of three former MC players who have accomplished three, conference weekly awards in program history (Lacey Palomarez-Kennedy - 7, LaToya Hopson - 4, Jalessa Taylor - 4). The trio accomplished the feat during the program's time in Division III as members of the American Southwest Conference. She is one of three players in the conference to claim freshman of the week laurels during the 2021-22 season. She joins the University of West Florida's Zoe Piller (4) and Lee University's Anna Muhonen (1). Saturday's win marked the largest margin of victory in the series with West Georgia.

Mississippi College's Christian Balcer is the Gulf South Conference Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Week Presented by TicketSmarter, as announced by conference office on Wednesday, Jan. 19. The Hurley, Miss., native reset a meet record in the 5,000 meters as he claimed the event crown. Balcer posted a time of 14:55.16 to break Emory University's Jack Whetstone's 2019 time of 15:01.67. He has won each of his collegiate races this season as he claimed the 3,000 meters at the Birmingham Southern Indoor Icebreaker in December. Balcer becomes the second Choctaw to garner the conference's freshman of the week accolade this season as he joins Wesley Gibbs, who earned the honor on Dec. 8, 2021. Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 22 as it travels to Birmingham, Ala., for the Samford University Open at the Birmingham Crossplex.

The Mississippi College women's basketball team started the new year with a 73-51 win in Gulf South Conference play against the University of West Georgia. MC improved to 8-5 on the season and 5-3 in conference action. The Wolves fall to 6-7 and 3-5 in the league. The victory snapped a five-game slide to UWG in the series and gave MC its first win since Jan. 9, 2017. Ally Alford posted a team-high 23 points as she hit 5-of-9 from behind the arc and 8-for-15 from the floor. The Batesville, Miss., native also tied for tops on the team with seven rebounds, which matched a season-high. It's the fifth time this season Alford has led the team in scoring - the most by any Choctaw - and her fourth with 20-plus. The 23 points is her second highest total this season behind her high of 27 points set on Dec. 18 against Union. Alana Canady joined Alford in double figures scoring along with seven boards as she chimed in 14. Amelia Bell added 12 points while Taylor Ben also grabbed seven boards. The Choctaws shot 50 percent from the floor, including a 52.9 clip from the 3-point line. The Navy and Gold pulled down 38 rebounds. "So happy for the win and it was really important that we started the semester well," said head coach Greg Long. "I had some concerns with such a long lay off and you could tell it affected us, but I was pleased with how the team responded. They play hard and that made things happen for us tonight and it really showed." Zaria Bankston paced the Red and Blue with 11 points while Jaylin Austin had seven rebounds. The Wolves shot 31.6 percent from the field, but struggled from behind the arc at 20 percent. They managed 33 boards in the contest. MC led the for all, but 1:33 of the contest as the two teams exchanged leads through the first four minutes of action. Kyiah Julian knocked down a 3-pointer at the 6:08 mark to give the Navy and Gold a 12-10 lead and it never looked back. The Choctaws reached a double-digit advantage at the 1:50 mark of the opening quarter. MC saw its lead expand to 34-21 at the half. The Choctaws grabbed its first 20-point lead at the 3:43 mark of the third as Canady scored in the paint off an assist from Dezirae King. The home team grabbed its largest lead of the game, 62-33, on a fast break layup from Julian off a UWG turnover.

The Mississippi College men's indoor track and field team returned to action on Sunday, Jan. 16 as it won the Emory University Crossplex Showdown at the Birmingham Crossplex. The Choctaws, which garnered 152 points, had seven event titles as it defeated a field that included four Division II programs, including fellow Gulf South Conference members the University of Montevallo and Shorter University. Christian Balcer reset a meet record in the 5,000 meters as he claimed the event crown. Balcer posted a time of 14:55.16 to break Emory's Jack Whetstone's 2019 time of 15:01.67. Gabe Poulin and Hunter Kurz posted marks that surpassed the previous meet time. Poulin finished second with a time of 15:40.74 while Kurz was third with a 15:01.38. Al Ferrill recorded a pair of event wins - the most by any Choctaw on the day. Ferrill posted a distance of 16.28 meters in the weight throw and added a throw of 14.93 in the shot put. Christopher Garcia-Cloud finished fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 12.61 meters and was sixth in the shot with a 12.23. Ben Woolhouse joined Ferrill with a win in the field events as he posted a leap of 4.40 meters took take the top spot in the pole vault. Shemar Patten took the 60 hurdles as he posted a time of 8.24. Patten also finished seventh in the 60-meter dash (6.91) and eighth in the 200 meters (22.62). Fabio Palmieri took second in the 200 meters with a time of 21.91 while Will Grames was sixth with a 22.47. Gabe Hodson posted the best time in the 800 meters with a 1:56.08. Hodson was joined by Jake Russell among the top three finishers in the race. Russell took second with a time of 1:56.24. Preston Speed finished in the top five as he clocked a 2:01.62 in fourth. Elijah Araya was ninth with a time of 2:03.97. Cole Benoit won the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:28.71. Like the 800 meters, the Choctaws placed three runners in the top five as Brock Kelly took silver with a time of 8:33.97 and Braedon Methvin in fourth with an 8:40.44. Chris Webber finished seventh with a time of 8:48.29. The 4x400 relay team of Grames, Russell, Wesley Gibbs and Hodson took the top spot. The quartet clocked a time of 3:19.72. Gibbs added a second-place finish in the 400 meters to his ledger as he posted a time of 50.00. Mississippi College is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 23 as it returns to the Birmingham Crossplex for the KMS Invitational.

The Mississippi College women's indoor track and field team returned to action as it took the top team spot at the Emory University Crossplex Showdown on Sunday, Jan. 16. The Choctaws notched five individual event titles. MC defeated a field that included four Division II programs, including fellow Gulf South Conference members, the University of Montevallo and Shorter University. The Navy and Gold garnered victories in a pair of distance events to start the day. Jazmin Hernandez brought home the 5,000-meters title with a time of 18:02.27. Kathy Hammond won the mile as she clocked a time of 5:16.89. She added a second-place finish to her ledger as she joined Ereyonna Gore, Leslie Baxter and Emily Berry in the distance medley relay with a time of 12:37.71. Baxter and Norma Gutierrez added running event crowns to the Choctaws' list. Baxter added an event crown in the 800 meters as she clocked a 2:21.30 while Gutierrez took the top spot in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:06.69. Tytavia Hardy posted the only event win in the field as she won the triple jump with a leap of 11.56 meters. Hardy also finished second in the 60 hurdles with a time of 9:01. Kiara Vance tallied a two third-place finishes as she posted a distance of 11.47 meters in the shot put and a throw 14.16 meters in the weight throw. Sakari Faulkner finished fifth in the weight throw with a toss of 12.85 meters while Victoria Myles recorded a throw of 12.446 meters. Vance wasn't the only Choctaw with a bronze-medal finish. Ryleigh Borbash posted a leap of 1.47 meters in the high jump. Shelby Dean finished third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:11.47 and Madeline Campbell clocked a time of 18:48.10 in the 5,000 meters. Ezra McCaw added a third-place finish in the sprints with a time of 25.76 in the 200 meters. Mississippi College is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 23 as it returns to the Birmingham Crossplex for the KMS Invitational.

Mississippi College honored the graduates of both summer and fall semesters in three campus ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 17. Dr. Blake Thompson, MC president, welcomed the graduates and gave opening remarks, while Dr. Tommy Leavelle, retired professor in the Department of Mathematics at MC and the 2020-21 Distinguished Professor of the Year, gave the Commencement Address. Thompson reiterated MC's theme, "Rise Up," for the 2021-22 Academic Year, inviting the MC Family to make this a year built on the "good work" God calls us all to do. The encouragement taken from Nehemiah 2:18 illustrates that, although situations can change at a moment's notice, God will strengthen our hands.

The Mississippi College women's basketball team posted four players in double figures as it garnered its first Gulf South Conference victory of the season downing the University of Alabama in Huntsville, 83-44, on Saturday, Dec. 4. Taylor Ben led the Choctaws (5-3, 1-1 GSC) with 17 points. Ally Alford added 16 points followed by Kyiah Julian with 11 points and 10 coming from Amelia Bell, who also paced the squad on the glass with nine rebounds. It's the second time this season Ben has led the team in scoring. Bell notched her fifth game as the leader on the glass, it's the most by any Choctaw this season. MC shot 45.9 percent from the field, including going 7-for-16 from behind the arc, and posted a clip of 69.0 from the charity stripe. The Navy and Gold grabbed 38 rebounds. Mississippi College gained its sixth win in the series and its second in the last three meetings. "It was one heck of a team performance tonight," said head coach Greg Long. "They were focused and exciting to watch. Now we just have to keep improving. You can tell we are maturing as a team to play like that tonight after a difficult setback on Thursday. We thank our fans for coming out and supporting tonight." Majah Bullock led UAH with 10 points while Sloan Mann pulled down six boards. The Chargers shot 31.8 percent from the floor, but struggled from behind the 3-point arc shooting 14.3 percent. The Blue and White connected on 75 percent from the free-throw line and managed 25 boards. The Choctaws, which led 15-11 at the end of the first quarter, totaled 25 points in the second stanza to take a 40-19 lead at the break. The second-quarter, point total marked the second-highest in a quarter this season. MC posted 28 points in the opening quarter against Southeastern Baptist on Nov. 30. MC duplicated the scoring output from the second in the third quarter and held the Chargers to single-digits for the second, consecutive period (eight in the second, nine in the third). The Choctaws grabbed their largest lead of the game with 5:10 left to play as they generated a 40-point advantage on a put-back from Ben.

The sustaining value of local church support for Mississippi College students cannot be overstated. For James Bradley McGlothin, recipient of the 2021 Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship, that truth has helped ensure a ministerial future unencumbered by debt. The junior Christian Studies and History scholar knows how important church support can be. During his last semester of high school, the French Camp native started preaching and conducting Bible studies in his home congregation at Bethsaida Baptist Church before opting to pursue a degree from MC. "I came from a small, private Christian school, and I had a lot of friends who were going to MC," McGlothin said. "When I came here for a visit, I got the same feeling - It was a strong Christian school with similar values to my own. "I wanted to get some foundational classes of Biblical Greek and some core Christian Studies classes before going on to seminary, so I chose to come to MC." He is definitely making the most of his opportunity at the Christian college. Dr. Burn Page, professor and chair of Christian Studies, said McGlothin's performance in the Greek 101 class he teaches is consistent with his stellar 4.0 overall GPA. "Bradley was prepared for the class from Day One," Page said. "He had all the required textbooks, and he took copious notes. There was no question that he was fully engaged in the class." Dr. Ivan Parke, professor of Christian Studies, said McGlothin has excelled in all of the subjects Parke has taught him. "He never missed class, sat on the front row, and occasionally stayed after class to ask good questions," Parke said. "Last spring, Bradley apprised me that he was changing his major to double major in history and Christian Studies. I was quite excited. "Students like Bradley would be cherished by any academic department." Those academic credentials solidified McGlothin's selection by the Alta Woods Baptist Church for its $1,000 scholarship, presented annually to an outstanding Christian Studies student at MC. A part of the Jackson community for more than 70 years, the church at 168 Colonial Drive seeks to reach people for Christ in a variety of ways. Its diverse missions include work with the Children's of Mississippi ministry, the women's prison ministry, and Operation Christmas Child, among others. Since June 2016, the church has partnered with New Jerusalem Baptist Church to share its 1,200-seat sanctuary and other facilities. Page serves as the church's pastor and worked as its interim pastor for five years before that. At MC, he also serves as director of the Institute for Christian Leadership based in historic Provine Chapel. In November, McGlothin had the opportunity to thank members of the Alta Woods Baptist Church personally by giving a sermon for the congregation. "It was a great experience," he said. "They were very kind to me, and I got to preach Colossians 1:15-17, about the supremacy of Christ." Page said he was proud of his pupil's performance in the classroom and in front of the pews. "It was very meaningful, especially because Bradley did such a great job preaching that morning," Page said. "A church likes to take 'holy pride' in being a part of a young man's ministry who 'correctly handles the word of truth' (2 Tim. 2:15)." While he hasn't yet decided which seminary to attend, McGlothin is certain of his academic goals: to obtain a Master's of Divinity and, ultimately, a Ph.D. He said the Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship will help him enter the next phase of his journey to the ministry. "My plan is to become a pastor, and I would love to also teach in a seminary," he said. "The Lord will ultimately see about that, but right now, that's the plan. "The scholarship came at a perfect time for me. It has helped to fill the gap, so Lord willing, I'll be debt-free when I graduate from MC. That's a huge benefit going into the ministry. It is helping to free me up so I can see where the Lord takes me. I'll be able to invest in seminary without having to worry about finances. It's very special." Parke said he has every confidence McGlothin will succeed in his ministerial efforts. "Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean asserted, 'It ain't bragging if you can do it.' Bradley is smart enough to brag, but he models humility. He is respectful and considerate. Consequently, I'm confident that he will succeed as a graduate student as well as a minister. He is pleasant and positive. His work ethic is commendable. "God honors the righteous and exalts the humble. Bradley already defers to God, crediting God's amazing grace." McGlothin, who has been attending Grace Community Church in Jackson during his time at MC, said the scholarship is indicative of the support local congregations provide students. "There are so many things going on on MC's campus. It's important for students to balance their school, social time, and church life in a way that is healthy and pleasing to God," he said. "The Lord has put a lot of great local churches around MC that students can be involved in. It's really crucial for anybody coming to MC to get plugged into a local, healthy church."

The Mississippi College Choctaws completed the comeback win against UAH Saturday evening inside A.E. Wood Coliseum, winning by a final score of 73-70. It was the first conference win of head coach Randy Bolden's tenure at Mississippi College as the Choctaws improved to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in GSC play. In the first half of play, UAH jumped out to a 15-4 lead just five minutes into the start of the game, taking control of the half as they would go into the break leading by 11-points, 43-32. Behind the shooting of Miles Miller, the Choctaws second half was a different story. Trailing 60-49 with 10 minutes left in regulation, Mississippi College utilized a 17-10 run to pull with four-points with 2:45 left on the clock. Under a minute to play, trailing 70-68, Miller knocked down the go ahead three-point shot to give MC a 71-70 advantage, giving the Choctaws their first lead of the game with 45-seconds remaining. The Choctaws knocked down a pair of free throws down the stretch as the defense closed out the contest to preserve the comeback victory, 73-70. MC had two players with 20+ points scored in the contest, with Miles Miller leading the way with 26 points scored on a career night shooting. Miller was clutch down the stretch, finishing 8-of-13 from three-point territory. Tradavis Thompson had an outstanding game with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting. He also added three steals on the night and was 3-of-8 from three-point land. Mississippi College led for a total of 45-seconds in the game, but was enough to secure the win. The Choctaws defense held the Chargers scoreless over the final 2:45 in the game as the offense utilized a 7-0 run over that stretch to take the lead and capture the win. Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday night at A.E. Wood Coliseum where they will take on Talladega beginning at 7 p.m. in Clinton, Miss.

Three members of the Mississippi College women's soccer team were selected to the D2CCA All-South Region teams on Tuesday (Nov. 23). Junior Midfielder Avery Hederman and Junior Defender Emma Young are 1st team All-Region selections while Senior Forward Beatrice Currie is a 2nd team selection. This is the first All-Region selection for all 3 players. Emma Young (Lafayette, La.) adds to what has been a banner year for the Junior defender. She was recently named GSC Defensive Player of the Year and was also.a 1st team All-GSC selection. This season Young started all 18 matches for the Lady Choctaws as she led a MC backline that conceded just 14 goals on the year and pitched 8 clean sheet shutouts. She also added 2 assists on the season while leading MC in minutes played. She played the entire match on 15 occasions this season (with the 3 in which she didn't all coming in MC blowout wins). Avery Hederman (Jackson, Miss) also picks up a 1st team All-South Region honor to pair with her 1st team All-GSC selection this season. Hederman scored 6 goals on the year and added 4 assists. She was 2nd on the team in goals scored and tied for 2nd on the team in assists. Her 16 points was also good for 3rd on the team. She started every match on the season for MC and was 3rd on the team in minutes played. Hederman also played the full match in 12 matches this season. Beatrice Currie (Nova Scotia, Canada) earned a 2nd team All-Region honor. Currie was also a 1st team All-GSC selection this season. Currie led the Lady Choctaws in goals scored with 9 (tied for 4th most in the GSC). She also added 3 assists on the year (tied for 5th on the team). Her 21 points also led the team (also tied for 4th most in the conference). Currie played in every match this season and also added the game-winning goal in 2 contests. She also had 3 multi-goal performances on the season. The D2CCA (Division II Conference Commissioners Association) All-South Region teams pick the best players from the South Region which consists of the Gulf South Conference along with the Sunshine State Conference. The teams were voted on by the region's Sports Information Directors. The first team honorees from the All-Region team will now advance to the national All-American ballot with those teams set to be announced on December 7th.

The Mississippi College men's soccer team had two players earn D2CCA All-South Region honors on Tuesday (Nov. 23). Senior Defender Aurele Chemin was a 1st team All-Region selection while Junior Forward Filippo Bellu was a 2nd team All-Region selection. This marks the first career All-Region selection for each player. Aurele Chemin (Paris, France) picks up another honor to add to his stellar season. Chemin was recently named GSC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was a 1st team All-GSC selection this year. This season Chemin started 16 matches for MC and was 2nd on the team in minutes played as he helped lead an MC defensive unit that was statistically the best in the Gulf South Conference (a league low 13 goals allowed on the season and also a league low 6 goals allowed in conference play). Chemin also added 2 goals and 2 assists on the year while also scoring a game-winning goal. Chemin played the full match in 13 matches this season. Filippo Bellu (Venice, Italy) adds a 2nd team All-Region selection to go with his 2nd team All-GSC selection this season. Bellu led the Choctaws in goals scored with 10 (5th in the conference) and he also added 2 assists on the year. His 22 points on the season also led the team (tied for 5th most in the conference). Bellu also scored the game-winning goal in 3 matches this year (tied for 4th in the GSC). Bellu played in all 17 matches for MC this season and was 5th on the team in minutes played. Bellu also registered 2 multi-goal matches on the season. The D2CCA (Division II Conference Commissioners Association) All-South Region teams pick the best players from the South Region which consists of the Gulf South Conference along with the Sunshine State Conference. The teams were voted on by the region's Sports Information Directors.

The Mississippi College men's and women's track & field teams opened up the 2021-2022 indoor track & field season on Friday at the Birmingham Southern Panther Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex. The Choctaws picked up four event titles including a meet record from Wesley Gibbs. Several Choctaws also set school records. Wesley Gibbs, a Freshman from The Colony, Texas, set the meet record in the men's 800m with a time of 1:52.37 in his first ever meet as a Choctaw. He picked up the event title, while also setting the school record. Jake Russell picked up a 5th place finish with a time of 1:55.58. Preston Speed also finished 8th with a time of 1:58.66. Christian Balcer added MC's other individual event title in the men's 3000m with a time of 8:34.18. In the 3K, he was followed closely behind by Hunter Kurz who finished 2nd with a time of 8:36.84. Gabe Poulin (5th) and Adam Gomez (7th) both also finished in the top 7 in the event. The Choctaws continued their recent success in the men's 4x400 relay as the group of Will Grames, Connor Stewart, Gabe Hodson, and Wesley Gibbs picked up the event title with a time of 3:21.10. MC also picked up the title in the men's distance medley relay with a time of 10:11.81. Hunter Kurz, Cole Benoit, Brock Kelly, and Christian Balcer were the 4 runners for the Choctaws. Tytavia Hardy also had a successful day as she picked up two top 10 finishes, plus broke her own school record in the 60m hurdles. Hardy set the school record in the prelims of the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.83. She then finished 10th in the event with a time of 9.11. She also finished 7th in the long jump with a distance of 5.29 meters. Ezra McCaw added a pair of school records. She handily set a school record in the 200m dash with a time of 25.02. She added to that a school record in the 60m dash with a time of 7.82 in the prelims. She would then finish 12th in the event with a time of 7.84 in the finals. Kiara Vance set a school record as well in the women's weight throw with a distance of 14.42m as she finished 7th. She was followed by Sakari Faulkner who finished 15th (12.24m) and Victoria Myles who finished 17th (12.08m). Fabio Palmeiri also picked up a pair of top 5 finishes in the men's 60m and 200m dashes. He finished 2nd in the 200m with a time of 22.00. He paired that with a 3rd place finish in the 60m with a time of 6.87. Robert Grames also finished 8th in the 200m with a time of 22.53. Emma Langley finished in 2nd place in the women's 800m with a time of 2:20.04. She was followed closely with Caroline Dooling who finished 11th with a time of 2:31.18. Al Ferrill picked up a 2nd place finish in the shot put with a throw of 14.77m. Christopher Garcia-Cloud finished 12th with a distance of 11.15m. Both men also picked up top 10 finishes in the weight throw. Ferrill finished 3rd with a throw of 14.90m. Garcia-Cloud finished 9th with a throw of 12.82m. Gabe Hodson also picked up a top 5 finish in the men's 400m as he finished 4th with a time of 49.97. Connor Stewart finished 14th with a time of 51.72. Four Choctaws finished in the top 10 of the 1 mile run, led by Cole Benoit who finished 3rd with a time of 4:20.68. Brock Kelly finished 5th with a time of 4:21.58, Braedon Methvin finished 9th with a time of 4:23.87, and Chris Webber finished 10th with a time of 4:25.01. On the women's side, three Choctaws finished in the top 10 in the mile. Leslie Baxter (5:28.46), Ava Dickerson (5:32.39), and Shelby Dean (5:39.27) all finished back to back to back 5th-7th respectively. In the 3K on the women's side, Jazmin Hernandez led the way in 3rd place with a time of 10:19.75. Madeline Campbell then finished 5th with a time of 10:36.05. She was followed closely by Kathy Hammond (who finished 6th with a time of 10:38.96) and Josie Whipp (who finished 7th with a time of 10:41.79). Zach McManus picked up a 3rd place finish in the men's long jump with a distance of 6.67m. He also paired that with another top 10 finish (7th) in the men's Triple Jump with a distance of 12.42m. Adrianna Burage finished 6th in the women's high jump with a jump of 1.55m. Ryleigh Borbash finished 16th with a height of 1.45m. Marina Rizk finished 14th in the pole vault with a height of 3.10m. The women's 4x400 relay team of Ereyonna Gore, Emma Langley, Jazmin Hernandez, and Leslie Baxter finished 11th with a time of 4:09.02 The Choctaws will now wait a while before returning to action in January at the Emory CrossPlex Invitational on Saturday January 15th.