Toppers beat No. 18 William Carey 69-64 in Hattiesburg

Blue Mountain Christian defeated No. 18 William Carey 69-64 on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss., earning a Southern States Athletic Conference road victory, the school said.

After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Toppers seized control with physical defense, timely offense and disciplined execution. Blue Mountain Christian shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) and dominated the boards 46-28, repeatedly generating second-chance opportunities and limiting William Carey to one-and-done possessions.

Blue Mountain Christian converted key free throws and secured defensive stops in the fourth quarter to protect its lead. The team finished with 13 second-chance points and controlled the late pace, answering several momentum swings with timely baskets.

Maddie Kirk led the Toppers with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. McKenzie Williams scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Kathryn Echols added 14 points and six rebounds, Lena Taylor had 10 points and six rebounds, and Isabella Carlson contributed five points and paced the offense with five assists.

The Toppers will enter the SSAC Basketball Championship Tournament as the sixth seed, the school said.