Kennesaw State Squeaks Past Jax State, 51-50 - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Wednesday, November 28

JACKSONVILLE

7 p.m.

Jax State

0-6

Kennesaw State

2-5

Team	1	2	F
Kennesaw State	31	20	51
Jacksonville State	27	23	50

11/28/2012 10:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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JACKSONVILLE – Kennesaw State hit a pair of free throws with 3.6 second left to squeak past Jacksonville State, 51-50, on Wednesday night in women's college basketball action at JSU's Pete Mathews Coliseum.

After JSU's Dashauna Truss drilled the go-ahead three-point basket with 11 second left to give JSU a 50-49 lead in the waning seconds left in the contest, but the Owls' Kristina Wells went to the free throw line to sink a pair of free throws for the road win. The loss drops Jax State to 0-6 on the season, while KSU moved to 2-5 on the year. The one-point setback was the third consecutive game that was decided by three points or less.

In a game that saw ten ties and five lead changes, JSU played catch up for the last 21 minutes of the contest after building its largest lead of the season at 15-6 at the 13:11 mark of the opening half. KSU clawed its way back into the game and found itself in a back and forth affair until the Black and Gold mounted a final push of the opening half to take a four-point, 31-27 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams started the contest with hot shooting hands as both connected on 40 percent from the field, while both teams combined for seven three-point shots.

The shooting percentages simmered in the second half as JSU out-scored KSU, 23-20, but could not close the deal down the final stretch. KSU quickly took its largest lead of the contest with a pair of sic-point leads in the first two minutes of the half. JSU equalized at 38-all with a three-pointer from Bria'unna Bucker with 12:16 to go in the game. KSU would push the lead out to five points at 45-40 with just over four minutes left in the game and then had to fend off a furious Gamecock run.

Sophomore Miranda Cantrell missed the free throw opportunity after her fifth made bucket of the game at the 2:02 mark to cut the lead to 47-45, but sophomore Gia Banks pulled down the rebound for the put-back to even the contest at 47-all. KSU's Sametria Gideon hit a lay up with 25 seconds left before Truss' three-point basket.

Cantrell, inserted into the starting line up for the first time this season, turned in her third-straight double figure scoring game with ten points and three assists in just 19 minutes of action. Truss led all JSU scorers with 13 points with nine of those 13 points coming off three-point baskets. The Jacksonville, Fla.-native also dished out five assists. Freshman Peyton Hisel and sophomore Marikate Gardler added seven points each in the loss. Banks posted a career high six points and matched her career high in rebounds with seven.

Gideon, Ashley Holiday and Chelsea Mason all had 13 points each to lead the Owls in the scoring column.

For the first time this season, the Gamecocks were out-rebounded by the opposition. KSU had a plus-12 advantage on the boards. Jax State dished out 13 assists and limited its turnovers to a season-low 11, while forcing 16 KSU miscues.

JSU will close out the four-game homestand on Friday, Dec. 7 as it hosts Reinhardt at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.