Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Jacksonville State dropped its final regular season road contest at Southeast Missouri, 59-48, on Saturday evening in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball action at the Show Me Center.

JSU, looking to advance to the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2011, falls to 11-17 overall and 7-8 in the OVC with one conference contest remaining.  SEMO kept its hopes alive for one of the eight tournament berths by improving to 5-9 against the OVC and 9-18 on the season.

Jax State's shooting struggles from Monday night against Morehead State followed it to Cape Girardeau in the opening half as it struggled to make baskets through the first 20 minutes.  JSU finished the contest shooting 17-of-63 (27%) from the field.  The Gamecocks knocked down just 10-of-35 from the field, but SEMO made just two more baskets in the first half.  After SEMO held the lead for the first ten minutes of the half, JSU took its first of two one-point leads at the 10:59 mark after a three-point bucket by Bria'unna Buckner.  Bucker came off the bench to score nine points in the opening half – all coming from behind the three-point arc.

After a Briana Benson lay up with 8:28 left to play in the half to give the Gamecocks a 14-13 lead, SEMO quickly responded to take momentum with a 13-4 run over a five minute span to take its largest lead of the half at seven points.  JSU trimmed the deficit down to 29-23 at the halftime break.

After SEMO took an eight-point lead on its first possession of the second half, JSU put together a run to even the game at 32-all after a pair Benson free throws with 16:09 left in the game.  The game would be knotted once more at 36-all a few trips down the floor, but SEMO would regain the lead and extend that deficit out to seven points with back-to-back treys to hold a 46-39 lead with 6:20 left on the game clock.

JSU would get within three, but could not get a key basket down the stretch to sway the momentum.  The Redhawks would race out to its only double-digit lead for the 11 point win.

The Gamecocks could not withstand a 17-point scoring effort from Briana Mitchell off the SEMO bench.  Mitchell, who scored 20 points against UT Martin earlier in the season, entered the game averaging 5.1 points.  Olivia Hackmann added 13 points, while Patricia Mack registered a double-double with 12 points and 21 rebounds – 20 coming on the defensive end of the floor.
Morton was the lone Gamecock to reach double figures and she scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.  Miranda Cantrell posted eight points, while Benson finished with seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.

JSU closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 1, hosting Belmont.  Tip off is set for 2 p.m. at Pet Mathews Coliseum.  The Bruins dropped a 54-48 home decision to Eastern Illinois on Saturday.  BU will travel to Eastern Kentucky on Monday before visiting Jacksonville.