KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville State picked up its first win of the season with a 65-59 road decision over Kennesaw State on Monday in the KSU Convocation Center.
After dropping the season opener last Friday at nationally ranked Florida State, Jax State (1-1) bounced back for the six point win over the Owls (0-2). JSU has now won two consecutive games over the region foe and claimed its first win over KSU on its home floor since the 2006 season. JSU now owns a 12-8 advantage in the all-time series with KSU.
The Gamecocks looked to have complete control of the contest after an 18-point third quarter in which it pushed a 32-21 lead out to as many as 20 points on two occasions in the third quarter, but a KSU made a run at JSU in the final quarter to make things closer in the final period and make the final deficit at six points.
Leading 50-31 to start the final period, the Owls opened with 1 13-4 scoring run to cut the lead to nine points at 54-45 with just over six minutes left in the game. Junior transfer
Kiandria 'Ki-Ki' Patterson went end-to-end on after a steal and a lay up to extend the lead back to double digits with 4:01 left to play. The Owls would trim the deficit down to six points a minute later on a pair of free throws by Iceis Walker. When JSU needed a basket, it went to
Destany McLin with a lay up and a free throw down the stretch of the contest. McLin led all JSU scorers with 11 points and had three rebounds and three assists.
After knocking down 14 three pointers in the season opener at Florida State, the Gamecocks used its size advantage against the Owls as they had 46 of the 59 points in the paint. JSU connected on a pair of treys in the game from
Briana Benson in the opening half and Patterson in the second half. JSU also had a plus-one advantage on the boards at 39-38. Sophomore
Rayven Pearson posted her second double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds. JSU also got production from senior point guard
Lacey Buchanon as the Jacksonville native finished with 10 points. Benson, who turned in 21 points at FSU, was one shy of double figures with nine points and four rebounds.
"Clearly, it was great to get the first win of the season and I thought we played really well for three quarters. I was not pleased with how we finished the game, but fortunately we had built a big enough cushion," said head coach
Rick Pietri." Hopefully, we can go back and watch the film and learn to finish the game."
With 14 players on the roster, JSU is capable of using a lot of players as nine of the 11 players that saw action recorded points in the scoring column. Patterson finished with seven points and a pair of rebounds, while
Tyler Phelion and
Tasha Magruder added six points each.
"I was really proud of the fact that all of our big kids could do damage offensively and we needed to get it to them more than we did. They were able to convert and finish at a high percentage," added Pietri.
After three lead changes in the opening quarter, JSU took a 13-9 lead after one quarter and never trailed the rest of the way. The Gamecocks shot just under 50 percent at 46.8 percent, while the Owls struggled to shoot 32 percent from the field. KSU was 7-of-15 from the field in the final period.
JSU had no answer for KSU' Allison Johnson as she tallied a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds. Clara Young added 10 points, while Walker finished with 10 points off the bench.
JSU wraps up its string of three consecutive road games to start the season on Thursday, Nov. 17, traveling to the Magnolia State to face the Rebels of the University of Mississippi. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. from The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The game will be available on the SEC Network + and on the Gamecock Sports Network.
