JACKSONVILLE – The University of Tennessee at Martin employed its extended zone and full court press to cause Jacksonville State havoc as the Skyhawks downed JSU, 63-53, on Saturday afternoon at Pete Mathews Coliseum in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball action.

The loss, the eighth in a row to the reigning regular season conference champion, dropped JSU to 7-11 on the season and 2-4 in OVC play.  The Skyhawks (10-7) won their third OVC game in a row after suffering a loss in the conference opener.

After Jax State jumped out to a 12-8 lead after the first quarter, UTM went to an extended zone and forced JSU to make shots on the perimeter.  While pressuring the Gamecocks on the defensive end, the Skyhawks put together a 23-point second quarter and held JSU to 11 points in the 10-minute session to take a 31-23 lead at halftime. JSU held its final lead of the contest after a three pointer by Briana Benson with 5:47 left in the opening half.   From that point on, JSU's shooting touch went cold and UTM responded with a 10-0 scoring run to close out the first half. 

The UTM pressure forced JSU in to 11 of its 22 turnovers in the first half and turned those in to 11 points on the other end to take the eight-point lead at intermission.  UTM finished with 30 points off Jax State miscues.

JSU looked to have solved the UTM zone in the early stages of the third quarter after it had cut the 31-23 halftime deficit down to 30-31 at the 7:37 mark of the quarter after a Courtney Strain lay up.  Strain, a senior from Woodland, Alabama, would pace JSU in the second half with 12 of her 18 points in the second half to match her career high in points.  Strain finished the game 7-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range.
UTM went on another scoring run to extend its lead out to double digits at 41-31 with 3:30 left in the third quarter.  The Skyhawks took their largest lead of the quarter at 46-33 after a DaiJia Ruffin basket with 1:55 left in the quarter.

Jax State would make a late run at UTM with just under four minutes left in the contest after junior Briana Benson drilled an open three pointer to trim the margin to 57-50.

The two teams combined for 16 three pointers in the game with both connecting on eight a piece.  UTM entered the contest as the top team in the league in three pointers made in a game with 10.1 per game, while JSU averaged six per contest.

Benson reached her scoring average in OVC games with 14 points off the bench as she was 4-of-13 from long range.  Sophomore guard Gretchen Morrison was held scoreless in the game for just the second time this season.  Sophomore Tyler Phelion was one rebound shy of her third double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.  Freshman Rayven Pearson grabbed 10 boards and pitched in seven points.

Chelsea Roberts led a trio of Skyhawks in double figures with 16 points.  Haley Howard and Ruffin added 13 points in the win.

The Gamecocks close out the two-game homestand on Wednesday as they will face Belmont.  Tip off is set for 11:30 a.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum.  It will be 'Elementary Day at JSU' as elementary kids from the local schools will be on hand at the midday contest.