BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team dropped a 63-55 decision to Florida Atlantic in the opening round of the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday.

The host-Owls (3-2) used a 20-8 second quarter to overtake JSU's lead after the first quarter and capitalized on a 4-21 shooting slump by the Gamecocks (2-4) in the period to extend a lead out to as many as 11 points midway through the period. FAU built the lead with a 10-0 scoring run to take a 24-13 lead at the 5:33 mark on a Sasha Cedeno basket.  Cedeno led all scorers with a game-high 19 points in the win.  Cedeno was one rebound shy of a double-double and finished 6-of-16 from the field.

FAU would hold on to the lead for the final 28:42, but not without scoring spurts from the Gamecocks in the second half.  The Owls held a nine-point, 28-19, lead at halftime after their 20-point quarter, but fended off a string third-quarter showing by Jax State.  FAU's advantage was cut to 28-25 in the opening two minutes of the third quarter with a basket by senior Destany McLin and back-to-back trips down the floor with points from senior Briana Benson.  The Owls extended the lead back out to the halftime margin with just over four minutes left in the period.  Junior transfer Kiandria 'Ki-Ki' Patterson drilled JSU's first three pointer of the contest with 3:10 left in the third quarter to get the Gamecocks back to within one possession.  JSU finished 2-for-19 from long range and extended its streak to 77 consecutive games with at least one three-point basket.

JSU trailed 43-36 after three quarters; Benson hit back-to-baskets for the Gamecocks to get within a basket at 43-41 with 8:13 left in the game, but that would be as close as Jax State would get as FAU extended the lead back out to as many as nine points at 54-45 after an 11-3 run.

The Gamecocks' shooting struggles continued throughout the game as they shot a season-low 29 percent from the field, while FAU turned in 42 percent from the field.  The Owls were successful at the free throw line with a 16-for-26 day at the line.

Benson reached double figures for the third time in six games with a team-high 13 points.  The Jonesboro, Georgia native grabbed six rebounds in the setback.  Senior Lacey Buchanon collected 12 points with six in each half.  The Jacksonville, Alabama product has scored in double digits in the last three games and in four of the first six games of the year.  McLin pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and added eight points.  Patterson finished with eight points off the bench, while senior Kelly Naughton and sophomore Rayven Pearson contributed four points each.

The Gamecocks will face the Rattlers of Florida A&M on Saturday at 11 a.m. CST.  FAMU dropped a 64-51 contest to Richmond on Friday.  FAU will take on Richmond for the tournament crown.