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JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team will look for its fifth win in a row on Wednesday as the Gamecocks host Belmont in the first of two home games this week at Pete Mathews Coliseum.  Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. and will precede the JSU men's contest with the Bruins.

Since a four-point, 70-66 loss to the Bruins on January 21 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Jax State has reeled off four consecutive wins and will vie for its 10^th win at home.  The Gamecocks currently stand tied for third in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 7-4 league record.  JSU recorded its 16^th overall win last Saturday at Tennessee Tech.  The Bruins have turned things around after starting conference play by dropping four of the first five OVC games.  The OVC Preseason favorite has won five of the last six with the lone loss coming last Wednesday at Morehead State.

Wednesday's meeting will be the 13th overall and the sixth in Jacksonville.  Belmont has won nine of the previous 12 meetings, but the Gamecocks' knocked off the Bruins in extra time in the last meeting at Pete Mathews Coliseum, 71-69, on March 1, 2014.

Jax State looks to continue a recent trend of solid offensive numbers and lock down defense on the other end.  The Red and White lead the OVC in scoring defense by holding its opponents to 58.3 points per game on the season.  In 10 of the 16 wins, JSU has limited its opponents to below 60 points.  For the first time in the program's NCAA Division I history, JSU held three straight opponents under 55 points (EKU, TSU, TTU).  Offensively, the Gamecocks are averaging 69.5 points in the last four games since the loss at Belmont. Including the BU loss, Jax State has hit eight or more three pointers in the last five games and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc in the four-game winning streak.

In the last five games, JSU has connected on eight or more three pointers.  On the road at Belmont, the Gamecocks knocked down eight, including five in the second half.  In back-to-back home games versus Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky, Jax State combined for 17 treys, including nine vs. EKU.  On the road at Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, JSU hit eight and nine treys respectively.  In the last five games, JSU has made 42 from beyond the arc, while limiting the opposition to just 19 made-treys.  In the first 11 conference games, the Gamecocks are hitting 36.2 percent from long range, ranking them fourth in the league.  Defensively, JSU is limiting OVC foes to 30.8 percent shooting from long range and hitting just 4.7 three-point baskets per league contest.
Sophomore Briana Benson leads JSU in three-point shooting at 40.0 percent (53-133).  Benson ranks fourth in the OVC in three-point field goal shooting and fourth in made three-point shots per game (2.2).  Against the OVC, the Jonesboro, Ga.-native is 30-74 (40.5) and ranks 10th in the league by percentage.  She leads the conference in treys-made per game with 2.7. 

Defensively in the last four games, JSU has held the opposition to 55.2 points, while scoring 69.2 per game and out-scoring the last four opponents by 14.3 points.  Through the first 23 games, JSU is limiting the opposition to 58.3 points per game.  In 10 of the 16 wins, Jax State has limited its opponents to below 60 points.

Following Wednesday's key match up with the Bruins, JSU will host the Golden Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 14.  Tip off is set for 5 p.m.  Everyone is encouraged to wear pink as the Gamecocks will don pink uniforms in honor of the Play 4 Kay initiative.