JACKSONVILLE - Five players reached double digits in scoring as the Jacksonville State women's basketball team cruised to an 83-44 victory over Savannah State Monday night at Pete Matthews Coliseum.

Leading 16-11 at the 9:13 mark in the first half, JSU went on a 27-5 run to go ahead 43-16 at intermission. A lay-up by the Gamecocks' Nina Bliss in the closing seconds gave Jax State its 27-point half-time advantage.

The 16-points allowed in the opening 20 minutes represented the best defensive half of the season for JSU. The Gameocks forced 12 turnovers while Savannah State shot only 17.9 percent from the field.

In the second half, the balanced scoring attack continued for Jax State. All 11 players on the roster scored in the game with Shanika Freeman leading the way with 17 points.

Other JSU players to reach double digits in scoring included Katja Fuess with 12 points and Laniece Thomas, Cobie Carlisle and Freddricka Embry with 10 points each.

JSU head coach Dave Dagostino said the team overcame a sloppy start to get the win.

"We had some turnovers in transition after we had made scoring opportunities," said Dagostino. "We needed to just refocus and run our offense."

The balanced scoring for the Gamecocks was a result of equal playing time. Every player recorded at least 10 minutes on the court--a first for JSU this season.

"We got a chance to evaluate a lot of players in different situations tonight," Dagostino said. "Savannah State changed defenses many times and we have not seen that this season. This was a good wake-up call to get our players in the right mind set to play against so many different defensive looks in one game."

The win gives the OVC-leading Gamecocks an 11-5 record heading into Thursday's conference showdown against Southeast Missouri State.

Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at Pete Matthews Coliseum.