MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team dropped its season opener to Memphis, 70-55, despite three Gamecocks posting double figures in the scoring column on Friday evening at U of M's Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

JSU, playing with just eight available players, was led by junior Briana Benson's 17 points, followed by a career-high outing for sophomore Gretchen Morrison.  The South Lake, Texas guard established a new career high in scoring with 13 points.  Senior Courtney Strain added 10 points in the setback to start the 2015-16 season.

Playing in a four quarter set up, JSU started strong with 15 points in the first 10-minute session.  JSU held its largest lead of the contest of eight points at 13-5.  Morrison had five of the squad's 15 points and would finish the first half with 10 points.  Strain and freshman Chloe Long had a pair of baskets each in the first quarter.  Long, making her JSU debut, turned in five points and six boards.

The Tigers' pressure started to make a difference in the second period as the pressure forced JSU in to 11 turnovers and score 17 of their 25 points off of Jax State's miscues.  The miscues would escalate in the third and fourth period as the Gamecocks finished with 28 turnovers, which ties for the most by the club under head coach Rick Pietri.  JSU tallied 28 turnovers against George Washington on Dec. 1, 2013.  U of M collected 34 points off of the 28 turnovers.  The Tigers, who held an 11-point lead in the second period, took a 35-28 lead in to the halftime break after JSU made a final first half run.

U of M doubled up the Gamecocks in the third period 22-11 to take its largest lead of the game at 18 points, 57-39, with just under a minute in the period.  JSU made just four baskets in the third period.

JSU opened the final period with a 9-0 scoring run thanks to key shots by Kelley Naughton, Morrison and Tyler Phelion.  Pietri employed a zone defense that caused the Tigers' issues and allowed JSU to get back in the contest and the deficit down to nine points after senior Destiny James converted on a layup.  James, playing just a shouting distance from her hometown of Bartlett, Tennessee, added four points in her return.  U of M would stretch the lead back out to as many as 18 points with just over a minute left before Strain's pair of free throws gave her 10 points and cut the lead to 15 points.

Phelion pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and added three points.  The Mobile, Alabama post player also had three blocks.  Phelion, along with Rayven Pearson controlling the paint, JSU was credited with five blocks in the contest, which is the most since the 2013-14 campaign. 
JSU was slightly better shooting the ball at 43 percent and out-rebounded the Tigers, 34-30.  U of M had the advantage in the paint and tallied 28 points in the post.

The U of M placed four players in double figures, led by Asianna Fuqua-Bey's 14 points and eight rebounds.  Cheyenne Creighton came off the bench to add 12 points.

The Gamecocks continue their season-opening road trip with a first-ever visit to West Lafayette, Indiana on Monday to face the Boilermakers of Purdue.  Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CST from Mackey Arena.