JACKSONVILLE — After dropping two Ohio Valley Conference games on the road in the last seven days, the Jacksonville State women's basketball team returned home to the friendly confines of Pete Mathews Coliseum, where the Gamecocks are have only dropped one game.

Morehead State opened the game fast offensively before the Gamecocks were able to establish momentum and take their first lead off a Briana Benson 3-point basket less than six minutes into the game.  It wouldn't be the last bucket for Benson from behind the arc, but it would be the last time the Eagles held the lead as the Gamecocks went on to win 72-64.  

The win pushes Jax State's record to 13- 7 while moving its conference record to 4-4. It also marks the eighth home win of the season for the Gamecocks, matching last season's home wins total. The victory also snaps an eight-game losing streak to MSU and first since Jan. 8, 2011.

For Benson, she finished with a team-high 17 points, 15 of which came from 3-point land as the Jonesboro, Ga. native made 5-of-10 shots from behind the arc, which matched her career high for treys-made in a game. She had 11 of those points in the first half, a first half that saw the Gamecocks take a 36-25 lead into the locker room.

However, Benson wasn't the only JSU player doing big things Saturday afternoon.

Destany McLin finished with her fifth double-double of the season, seventh for her career, as the junior from Athens, Alabama had 16 points and 12 rebounds in a team-high 33 minutes of play.
Candace Morton also joined her teammates with a double figure scoring game. After sinking two late free throws, Morton was able to finish with 11 points and four assists for the Gamecocks. By pulling down four rebounds during the contest, she becomes the seventh player all-time in JSU history to score 1,000 points and have 500 rebounds in their career.

After missing four games over the span of two weeks, senior Miranda Cantrell returned to the court for JSU. She saw 20 minutes of game action off the bench while scoring six points and having one rebound and one assists.  Cantrell's basket at the seven-minute mark of the opening half gave JSU its first double figure lead of 30-20.

Pietri and his team were able to fend off a game-high 23 point performance from OVC preseason team member Almesha Jones, who also dished out five assists. Eriel McKee had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles.  MSU had five players on its roster averaging double figures, led by Jones coming in to the contest.  JSU limited the Eagles to under their season's scoring average of 70 points.

Even though the Eagles challenged the Gamecocks with a zone defense, they drilled four three-point baskets in each 20 minute session.  Both teams mirrored each other offensively as they hit 44 percent from the field.  JSU won the rebounding edge by a 44-36 mark.
 
JSU will continue its homestand Wednesday as the Gamecocks play host to Eastern Kentucky with tip-off scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum.  It will be Education Day at Pete Mathews Coliseum as elementary kids from Jacksonville Public Schools and schools from Calhoun County will be in attendance.