JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State hosted over 500 elementary school kids for Education Day with the Gamecocks and the young crowd was treated to a defensive struggle as Belmont topped JSU, 44-32, on Wednesday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The loss extended Jax State's (7-12, 2-5 OVC) losing streak to three games and five straight losses to the Bruins, (12-7, 4-2) who recorded their second road win of the season and the fourth consecutive in a row.

The Bruins entered the game as the second-best scoring team in the Ohio Valley Conference, averaging over 70 points per game, while JSU was listed as the top defensive scoring team in the conference, only allowing the opposition to just over the 50-point mark.  JSU was able to limit the Bruins' possessions with a slow tempo contest and keep BU well under its scoring average, but the Gamecocks' inability to make field goals proved costly in the midday affair.  The Gamecocks connected on its second-lowest field goal percentage of the season with a 13-of-50 shooting performance for the game.  JSU made nine field goals in the first 20 minutes and just four in the final half.  JSU averages over six three pointers per game, but managed to hit just a pair in the second half of the game. 

The Bruins were slightly better shooting the ball as they hit nine field goals in each 20 minute half and fend off a late JSU run in the final quarter.  The two teams combined for 13 points in the first quarter, as JSU led 8-5 after the first 10 minutes of the game.  The Bruins overcame the sluggish start to put together an 18-point second quarter and take a 23-18 lead in to the halftime break.  BU closed out the quarter on am 11-6 run over the final 6:19 of the period.

BU extended the lead out to double figures at the 4:07 mark of the third quarter after starting the period on an 8-2 run that was capped off by a Lauren Thompson jumper to make it 31-20.  The Bruins held their largest of 13 points at 33-20 with 2:20 left in the quarter.

After trailing 35-25 through three periods, Jax State got within five points at 35-30 after a jumper by Chloe Long and a three pointer by Destiny James near the midpoint of the quarter, but that would be as close as the Gamecocks would get as BU extended the lead back out to double figures with 3:23 left to play.
For just the second time this season, JSU did not have a double figure scorer as Tyler Phelion and Long led Gamecocks with eight points each.  Phelion, who battled BU's lengthy inside presence all day, turned in a nice stat line with seven rebounds and seven blocked shots in 35 minutes of action.  Long grabbed four rebounds and was credited with four steals.

JSU's top-two scorers in OVC play were limited to 11 points combined as senior Courtney Strain finished with six points and junior guard Briana Benson added five points.  Benson entered the game scoring in double figures in the five previous OVC contests and finished eight points off her average.

Sophomore Sally McCabe tallied a game-high 14 points and six rebounds to pace the Bruins.  Ellie Harmeyer contributed seven points off the bench.

JSU returns to road action with two separate trips to Morehead State on Saturday, January 23 and Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, January 27.  Tip off against the Eagles is set for 1:30 CST from Johnson Arena.