JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team went through a dress rehearsal for the 2014-15 campaign on Saturday afternoon and a pair of new faces stole the show in a 66-25 toppling of Birmingham-Southern.

The duo of senior transfer Courtney Strain and freshman Gretchen Morrison combined for 25 points to go along with senior Miranda Cantrell's game-high 14 points.  The College Park, Ga.-post player fell one rebound short of a double-double in the friendly contest.  Strain, who joined the Gamecocks after three season at Auburn, earned a spot in the starting line up and finished with 13 points in 27 minutes of action.  Strain also grabbed eight rebounds in playing at one of the forward spots.  The Woodland, Alabama-native connected on 4-of-8 from the field, including a pair of three-point baskets.
Morrison, a sharp shooter from Southlake, Texas did what the Jax State coaches saw in the recruiting process – knock down three pointers.  She came off the bench to spark the Gamecocks' outside scoring threat with 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for 12 points in her collegiate debut. 

JSU led from the opening tip and raced out to a double figure lead by five minutes deep in to the contest on a lay up by freshman Tyler Phelion to give JSU a 10-0 with 15:11 left in the opening half.  JSU stretched its lead out to 20 points at 24-4 on a Leah Strain bucket at the 8:13 mark.  JSU benefited from 15 first-half turnovers by the Panthers and turned those miscues in to the same amount on the offensive end of the floor.

The Gamecocks would carry a hefty 36-10 halftime lead in to the dressing room.

In the second half, all of Pietri's available players registered their name in the scoring column.  The Gamecocks extended the defensive pressure on BSC throughout the game to force 29 total turnovers and scored 27 points off those turnovers.  JSU also used its quickness down the floor to put 10 unanswered points on the scoreboard in fast break opportunities.  The Gamecocks size also had something to do with BSC's ineffectiveness as they out-rebounded the Panthers 51-32.

BSC was limited to 5-of-25 shooting for the contest, while Jax State knocked down 26-of-69 for 37.7 percent from the field.

Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Candace Morton finished with six points, while Phelion capped off her first collegiate of action with six points and four rebounds.

The Gamecocks now turn their attention to the season opener in the state of Texas on Friday, Nov. 14 as they take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.  Tip off from Lubbock, Texas is set for 5:30 p.m.  JSU's home opener is slated for Saturday, Nov. 22 against New Orleans.