THIBODEAUX, La. – Sophomore Gretchen Morrison continued her stellar three-point shooting on Friday as she poured in 17 points from behind the arc to pace Jacksonville State to a 63-49 road win at Nicholls State.

The 14-point win was the third in a row for the Gamecocks and the first win away from Pete Mathews Coliseum this year.  The win pushed JSU's overall mark to 5-6 on the season, while NSU dropped to 2-7 on the season.

Jax State put together a complete game as it connected on a season-high 47 percent from the field, including 30 percent from three-point range, while limiting the Colonels to 35 percent shooting for the night.  JSU took advantage of 19 NSU turnovers and turned it in to 17 points on the other end and picked up the pace with 12 fast break points.  The Gamecocks scored 30 of the 63 points inside the paint.

Morrison, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week, will have a chance for a second consecutive honor after her last two outings after the award was announced Tuesday morning.  After a career-high 31 points against Tuskegee to earn the weekly honor, she followed that feat with nine points on three made treys.  On Friday, the South Lake, Texas guard finished 6-of-18 from the field and 5-of-17 from long range.  She sparked JSU's 26-point first half effort with four of her five three pointers in the first 20 minutes.  Morrison, who matched her career-high with 37 minutes, also had three rebounds and a pair of steals.

Over the last three games, Morrison is averaging 19 points per game and has drained 18-of-44 (41 percent) from three point range and has averaged six three pointers per game.  JSU has also out-scored the opposition by a +18.7 margin and shooting 38 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the arc (28-of-91).

The Gamecocks led from start to finish thanks to a quick start and a 14-10 lead after the first quarter.  The lead was pushed out to double figures for the first time at 20-10 on one on Morrison's three points in the first half.  JSU would take its third 10-point advantage with 5:50 left in the half on a Morrison trey, but an 11-4 scoring run by the Colonels cut the JSU down to four points at 30-26 heading in to the halftime break.

JSU maintained the lead in the third quarter and took the largest lead of the game through three quarters at 44-33 on a three pointer in the final seconds of the quarter.  JSU would not relinquish its double digit lead the rest of the way as it held its largest lead of 19 points at 60-41 with 2:24 left in the contest.
For the second consecutive game, all eight Gamecocks scored in the win.  Junior Briana Benson joined Morrison in double figures with 13 points and six rebounds.  Benson was also credited with four steals in 27 minutes off the bench.  Senior Destiny James added eight points and five assists, while junior Kelly Naughton posted seven points. Senior Courtney Strain and sophomore Tyler Phelion pitched in six points each.  Freshmen Rayven Pearson and Chloe Long turned in four points and two points respectively.

Hope Pawlowski came off the bench to lead the Colonels with 18 points.

The Gamecocks will have a quick turnaround as they will wrap up the pre-Christmas schedule on Monday, December 21 in Macon, Georgia against the Bears of Mercer. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CST.