NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team saw its three-game winning streak come to a halt with a 56-42 loss to Belmont on Wednesday night in Ohio Valley Conference women's hoops action at the Curb Event Center.

JSU suffered its first loss since late January after notching wins on the road at Eastern Kentucky and back-to-back wins at home against Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, but ran in to one of the other hottest teams in the OVC in Belmont; fell to 10-14 overall and 5-7 in OVC play.  The Bruins, who claimed both contests over the Gamecocks this season, improved to 17-7 overall and remained in contention for the regular season title with UT Martin and SIU Edwardsville with a 9-2 mark against the OVC.  Jax State has now dropped the last six meetings with the Bruins.

In both meeting with the Bruins, head coach Rick Pietri employed a stall tactic type of offense as BU ranks among the league leaders in scoring offense.  In the game in Jacksonville, the Bruins were limited to 44 points and took a 44-32 win back to Nashville.  On Wednesday night, the Bruins were more effective offensively and held off a third quarter Gamecock charge in the in the win. 

JSU's offense was held to 15 points in the opening 20 minutes and trailed the Bruins 27-15 at the break.  Freshman Chloe Long sparked 18-point third quarter with 10 points in the 10-minute session.  The Hazel Green, Alabama post player was the lone Gamecock in double figures with 13 points and grabbed a eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 34 minutes of action.

JSU trimmed the deficit down to single digits at 40-33 following the third quarter and made it a two possession game early in the final quarter after Tyler Phelion knocked down a jumper to make it 40-35 with 9:36 left in the contest.  The Bruins responded with a 10-0 scoring run that pushed the lead out to 15 points at 50-35 as Darby Maggard capped off the run with a three pointer at the 5:21 mark of the quarter.  The Bruins would push the lead out to as many as 19 points with just over three minutes left in the contest. 

Senior Destiny James turned in another solid performance by adding nine points and three assists in 34 minutes of floor action.  JSU's leading scorer, Briana Benson collected eight points, including a pair of treys.  Benson, the OVC's leading free throw shooter, did not make a trip to the free throw line.  Freshman Rayven Pearson, who did not play against Belmont in the first game, finished with six points and five rebounds.  Phelion pitched in six points.
Three Bruins recorded double figures in the scoring column, led Sally McCabe's double-double.  McCabe carded 14 points and 13 rebounds.  Maggard added 11 points, while Lauren Thompson added 10 points.

The Gamecocks return to action in the Volunteer State on Saturday with their second meeting of the season with TTU.  Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Tech's Eblen Center in Cookeville, Tenn.