FLOWOOD - The Lady Mustangs of Pillow Academy put the clamps on Presbyterian Christian School in the second half.
Pillow held PCS to just 10 points after the break en route to a 37-28 victory here Wednesday at Jackson Prep in the first round of the State AAA Tournament.
"We made some defensive changes at the half, and our girls really stepped it up after that," said PA coach Durwin Carpenter. "We did a good job of allowing only one shot and making that a tough shot.
"We really did a good job on their top scorer Katie Magee, who can score from anywhere. Kristen Stephens and Mary Langdon Gallagher held her to eight points."
The win pushes the Lady Mustangs to 20-10 on the season and puts them in the semifinals. They will face Jackson Academy 1 p.m. Friday. JA, which got a first-round bye as the Division I champion, is 3-0 against Pillow this season.
Friday's winner advances to the championship game at 2:15 p.m. Saturday. The consolation game is set for 1 p.m.
The top three teams will advance to next week's MAIA Overall Tournament.
PCS led Pillow 18-17 at the half but was outscored 12-3 in the third period. The Lady Mustangs scored eight fourth-quarter points, compared to seven for PCS, which ends the season at 21-10.
Holly Ann Pannell led the Lady Mustangs with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Stephens chipped in with eight points, four boards and three assists.
