KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville State's six-game winning streak came to tough halt with a 67-65 overtime loss to Kennesaw State on Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center on the KSU campus.
The two-point loss is the first since the Gamecocks (6-2) opened the season with a setback at Texas Tech. The Owls extended their three-game winning streak with the win and moved to 7-2 on the year. KSU has claimed the last three meetings on their home floor against Jax State.
The game winner in the extra session came from KSU's Jasmine McAllister as time was winding down. McAllister entered the contest averaging a double-double and reached that feat against JSU. The Gamecocks held her scoreless in the first 20 minutes and four rebounds. In the second half, the Owls made it a point to get it to her in the paint as she scored all 17 points in the second half and six rebounds in the half to finish with 10 rebounds.
After a solid start to the contest after being idle since Dec. 5, JSU jumped out to its largest lead of the contest at eight points, 15-7 at the 12:59 mark of the contest. KSU managed to tie the game for the fourth time of the first half at 23-all with 3:46 to play in the half. JSU would close out the half with an 8-2 run to take a 31-25 lead in to the halftime break.
JSU suffered its first setback this season when leading at the break and just the fourth loss under
Rick Pietri when holding a lead at halftime. After just 14 points in the paint for KSU in the first 20 minutes, the Black and Gold erased the six-point deficit with 13-4 run to open the half. KSU finished with 36 points in the paint, 22 in the final 25 minutes. The Owls would take their largest lead of the game with 7:58 left in regulation after a Deandrea Sawyer knocked down a three pointer. JSU's
Candace Morton knocked down a pair of free throws with 4:45 left to cut the lead to 57-55 and
Destany McLin was clutch once again with a jumper with just over four minutes left for the ninth tie of the game. The lead changed hands 15 times throughout the 45 minutes and saw 12 the game tied 12 times.
Senior
Miranda Cantrell, playing in her home state, gave JSU its final lead of regulation, 59-57, with a jumper with 3:09 left to play. KSU's Breonna Moseley matched Cantrell with a basket with 2:09 left. That would be the final points of regulation. The Gamecocks had a chance to win it in regulation, but Morton's shot rimmed off at the buzzer.
KSU jumped out in the extra period with a three-point basket by Karly Frye, but JSU battled back with McLin's basket with 2:23 left to play. The Athens, Alabama-native gave Jax State a 65-64 lead with 1:30 left before McAllister tied the game with a free throw and the game-winner.
McLin finished with a game-high 18 points and six rebounds. Morton turned in 15 points in 34 minutes of action, while Cantrell pitched in 11 points.
JSU looks to bounce back on Tuesday when it travels to South Carolina State for a 5 p.m. CST tip off.
