[Box Score]
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State used a huge first quarter performance to distance themselves from Eastern Illinois holding on to earn a 60-52 victory over the Panthers.
With the loss EIU drops to 1-13 on the season and 0-2 in the OVC as Jacksonville State improves to 6-8 and earn their first conference win. JSU jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter starting the period on a 10-2 run finally broken by a three-point shot from Phylicia Johnson at the 5:55 mark. It was all Gamecocks in the first period as JSU's Chloe Long scored 10 points while Courtney Strain added another nine in the first quarter.
Jacksonville State outscored EIU 23-9 in the first quarter as the Gamecocks went 11-of-18 and shot 61.1 percent from the field.Â
The second quarter started much like the first as a free-throw from JSU's Raven Pearson pushed the lead to 17 points with the Gamecocks leading 26-9 with 8:57 left in the first half. Pearson was a big presence for JSU in the paint finishing the game with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Panthers clawed back into the match as a layup from Johnson with 7:50 left in the second quarter sparked a 9-2 run for EIU. Johnson finished the game with nine points.Â
EIU cut the lead to 10 points following a free-throw from Halle Stull to make it 28-18 with 3:37 left in the half. Jacksonville State's offense slowed down significantly as the Gamecocks only shot 28.6 percent in the second quarter. Shakita Cox nailed a three-pointer right as the halftime buzzer sounded to send the Panthers into the locker room trailing JSU 32-21. The Panthers opened the second half right away with another three-point bucket this time from Grace Lennox to make the score 32-24. Lennox finished the game with 10 points. EIU battled back in the third quarter to pull within three points following a layup from Cox at the 1:42 mark cutting the score to 37-34.Â
JSU countered with a quick five points from Briana Benson and Strain to create an eight point buffer. Cox once again drained a three-point shot for EIU as time expired in the third quarter to make it 44-39 headed into the final period. Cox finished the game leading the Panthers with 12 points.
Jacksonville State's Benson made a three-point shot early in the final period to extend the Gamecock lead to 51-41 with 7:08 left in the game. Benson finished the game with 10 points. Cox once again made a crucial three-point shot to start an 8-1 run and cut the Gamecock lead down to four late in the fourth quarter. Erica Brown made an easy layup to make it 56-52 with 48 seconds left in the game.
Brown fouled out shortly after her layup finishing the game with nine points and seven rebounds. JSU went on to score the final four points of the game and earn the 60-52 victory.
Jacksonville State had three other players score in double figures along with Pearson and Benson. Long scored 13 and both Tyler Phelion and Strain scored 12 each.
EIU finally returns to Lantz Arena following their four game road swing this Wednesday [Jan. 6] against Tennessee State at 12 pm.