NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team suffered a 64-51 loss to Tennessee State on Saturday inside TSU's Gentry Center.
 
The Gamecocks (8-11, 1-6 Ohio Valley Conference) were unable to slow down the Tigers who shot 50 percent or better in each of the final three periods, including 62 percent in the fourth.
 
Lacey Buchanon's 15 points topped the stat sheet for JSU. Tyler Phelion and Rayven Pearson also reached double figures finishing with 10 and 11, respectively. Phelion also dished three assists and swatted a pair of blocks.
 
Jax State held a 14-13 lead after the first quarter, but struggled to contain TSU the same way throughout the rest of the night. The Tigers took a 24-19 lead near halftime, the largest up to that point, before JSU closed the gap to 28-24 at the break.
 
Out of intermission, the Gamecocks used a 7-1 run to grab a 31-30 lead. TSU responded to reclaim the lead soon after and build its margin back out to five points entering the fourth. Fueled by a growing crowd inside the Gentry Center, the Lady Tigers reached their first double-digit lead midway through the fourth. JSU took a timeout trailing 54-42 hoping to regroup for a late surge, but it never came. Despite a 1-2 mark through its previous three contests, JSU had not trailed by more than four points over the last 120 minutes of game time prior to Saturday.
 
JSU couldn't make the outside shot work to help pull back into the game, ultimately finishing 5-of-21 from three-point range. The Gamecocks are now 1-9 on the season when opponents score over 60 points.
 
Still in search of the first OVC road win of the year, Jax State will travel to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, Jan. 25.