JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State overcame a slow start offensively in the first half to take the lead several times during the second half, but ultimately was done in by missed shots during the overtime period in a 55-52 rare loss at home to Belmont.
Tyler "Cocoa" Phelion had a career performance for the Gamecocks as the freshman from Mobile finished with career-highs in points and rebounds with 14 and 13 respectively. Her half-court heave, in the closing seconds of overtime, came up short as JSU fell for the first time at home since January against Austin Peay. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak by Jax State, who moved to 16-8 overall and 7-5 in OVC play. BU improved to 10-15 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.
Phelion scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the second half and the five minute extra session.
Outside of Phelion, only
Candace Morton finished in double figures. The senior from Lexington, Ky. finished with 11 points for the Gamecocks.
Three Jacksonville State players—
Destany McLin,
Miranda Cantrell, and
Gretchen Morrison—all finished with six points in the contest.
The Gamecocks shot a season-low 23.2 percent from the field, which included 18.9 percent during the first half and 10 percent (1 of 10) during overtime. On the flip side, the JSU defense forced a season-high 28 turnovers while only giving the ball away eight times.
After only having two rebounds in the two team's last time out, Belmont's 6-foor-3 freshman center Sally McCabe had her way on the glass as she finished with a game-high 19 rebounds. She also had 12 points for the Bruins. Senior Jordyn Luffman-Hartsfield paced the way offensively for the Bruins as she had a game-high 18 points to go along with 15 rebounds.
Belmont's Katie Carroll only had seven points through regulation, but the senior did most of her damage during the extra five minutes. She drained a 3-point basket and then followed with a jumper just outside the lane to give the Bruins a quick five-point lead.
JSU will continue its home-stand Saturday as the Gamecocks welcome in Tennessee Tech as part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for the 'Play4Kay' breast cancer awareness initiative that NCAA Women's Basketball is putting on throughout the month of February.
