MOREHEAD, Ky. - Sophomores Gretchen Morrison collected 23 points and Tyler Phelion turned in her third double-double of the season, but Jacksonville State could not record a road win as Morehead State topped JSU, 67-63, on Monday night in Ohio Valley Conference action.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Jax State (7-13, 2-6 OVC) and the 11^th to the Eagles of MSU in the overall series.  MSU improved to 8-13 overall and 2-5 in OVC play.  The Gamecocks will continue their stay in the state of Kentucky with a visit to Richmond, Kentucky on Wednesday to face the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky.  Tip off from McBrayer Arena is set for 4:30 p.m. CST.

JSU started both halves on fire as it started the game with its largest lead of the game at 8-0 with 8:29 left in the opening period, but the Eagles end the quarter on an 18-7 run to take an 18-15 lead.  The run continued for MSU as it out-scored JSU 18-9 in the second period and limited JSU to just 9-of-32 from the field in the first 20 minutes.  JSU trailed 27-24 after a Courtney Strain bucket with 2:48 left in the half and that would be the final points for the Gamecocks as MSU extended the lead out to 14 points at 37-23.

Morrison, who turned in six points in the first half after knocking down a pair of three pointers, caught fire from long range to ignite JSU's comeback.  Trailing by 14 entering the third quarter, the South Lake, Texas native hit her only non-three-point field goal to open the half and then drilled back-to-back treys to cut the MSU lead sown to 39-34 with just over seven minutes left in the quarter.  Junior Briana Benson drove the paint for a layup and senior guard Destiny James drained a three pointer from the right corner to even the contest at 39-all with 4:35 left in the game.  JSU opened the quarter on an 18-2 run to erase the deficit and take its first lead since the first quarter on a James basket at the 4:05 mark of the period.  With a new ballgame on hand, the contest stayed within reach the rest of the way. 

The Gamecocks took a47-45 lead in to the final quarter, but the lead did not last long in to the final session as MSU's Shay Steele evened the contest for the fifth time with a driving layup.  After a pair of Brianna McQueen free throws, MSU took a lead that it would not relinquish the rest of the way, but had to stave off a feverish comeback by JSU.  MSU held a six-point, 60-54, with 4:23 left but after a Chloe Long bucket and Morrison's seventh trey of the night, JSU was within a point at 60-59 with 2:34 left on the clock.  MSU's Natalie Greenwell score six of her final 19 points in the final stages of the contest to fend off Jax State's comeback. 

Morrison, who was held scoreless in the last two games, broke out of the slump on Monday as she connected on 7-of-9 from behind the three-point arc.  It was the second time she has reached 20-plusd points in a game and just eight points off her career high of 31 points set earlier this season.  Phelion was the only other Gamecock to reach double figures in the scoring column as the Mobile, Alabama native finished with a career high 16 points and 11 rebounds.  It was her fourth double-double of her career.  Phelion added three blocks and a steal to her stat line.

Long was one point shy of her first double-double as she grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds and nine points.  The Hazel Green, Alabama freshman was also credited with three blocks and three steals.

Four of MSU's five starters were in double figures in the scoring column, led by Greenwell.  Steele turned in 17 points, McQueen added 14 points and Miranda Crockett pitched in 10 points in the win.

Wednesday's EKU contest will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network with air time at 4:10 CST.  The game will also be on the OVC Digital Network.