JSU Women Drop OVC Home Opener to UT Martin - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Monday, December 30

JACKSONVILLE

5:15 p.m.

Jax State

3-11, 0-2OVC

UT Martin

8-6, 1-0OVC

Team	1	2	F
UT Martin	53	35	88
Jacksonville State	38	37	75

12/30/2013 7:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville State women's basketball team fell behind to UT Martin early in the first half, and could not recover in the second half as UTM downed JSU, 88-75 in the Ohio Valley Conference home opener at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

JSU had trouble all night trying to contain, preseason OVC Player of the Year and All-OVC member, senior guard Jasmine Newsome, who finished with 25 points (11-for-19 from the field, and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe). She also dished out a game-high 11 assists to her teammates. Heather Butler and Tiara Caldwell benefited from Newsome's assists as they finished with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Offensively, the Gamecocks were led by junior guard Candace Morton and her 22 points, five rebounds and matched her season best in assists with five. By finishing the night in double figures, Morton has now scored in double figures in all 14 games this season; 15 straight games dating back to the 2012-13 season finale.

Sophomore guard Destany McLin scored 14 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Forward Miranda Cantrell also chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds. Destany James added a career high eight points and dished out a team-high six assists off the bench. Freshman Briana Benson also contributed off the bench with eight points.

Butler opened the contest by hitting a jumper to put the Skyhawks on the board, and then a three-point basket by Morton pushed the Gamecocks ahead. A layup by McLin extended JSU's lead to three, until a layup by Chelsea Roberts and two free throws by Newsome put UTM ahead for good.

JSU went into halftime trailing 53-38, but a 10-0 run for UTM during the second half was the dagger. The run lasted 3:37, during which JSU shot 0-for-7 from the field. Jax State was also done in by the Skyhawks' 18 steals, as well as the Gamecocks' 24 turnovers. UTM scored 24 points off of those miscues.

JSU will play their final non-conference game of the season on New Year's Day, as the Gamecocks will travel to Samford University, before traveling to Tennessee State to resume OVC play Saturday, Jan. 4. Tip off from SU's Pete Hanna Center is slated for 3 p.m. and will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.