Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – A 15-2 scoring run midway through the second half propelled Belmont past Jacksonville State, 68-62, on Monday afternoon in women's basketball action at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The Bruins, newcomers to the Ohio Valley Conference, moved their conference mark to 3-1 and evened their overall record at 8-8.  The Gamecocks fell to 0-16 on the season and have dropped their first four league contests.

Jax State, who held its lone three-point lead of the contest early on in the first half, fought back to within a point at 41-40 with 9:57 left in the game after sophomore Bria'unna Buckner drilled one of her career-high four three-pointers.  BU responded with its 15-2 scoring run to push the lead out to double figures and take its largest lead of 14 points at 56-42 at the 4:50 mark of the second half.  JSU dwindled the lead down to six points on two occasions the rest of the way, including the final deficit. 

Buckner, from Detroit, Mich., led the Gamecocks with a career high 17 points in 19 minutes of action off the bench.  Buckner finished the contest 6-of11 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc.  As a team, JSU knocked down a season-best seven treys as Buckner and senior guard Amanda McCarthy combined to hit all seven.  McCarthy posted 11 points and three assists in the setback.

Sophomore Marikate Gardler followed up her career day on Saturday with another solid effort with her second consecutive double digit scoring output.  After her 22 point effort Saturday against Tennessee State, the Springfield, Pa.-product added ten points and three assists.  Gardler was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line and finished the two-game homestand 11-for-11 at the charity stripe.

For the third time in four OVC games, JSU out-rebounded the opposition with its 46 total rebounds and it held the Bruins to 36 in the contest.  Sophomore Gia Banks pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive end of the floor. 

BU used a balanced scoring attack in the road win, led by Katie Brooks' game-high 19 points.  Katie Carroll registered nine points, while five other Bruins added eight points each. 

The Gamecocks return to OVC action on Saturday, Jan. 12 as they travel to Charleston, Ill. to face Eastern Illinois.  Tip off is set for 4 p.m. and will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network and the OVC Digital Network.