JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team broke through for its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season with a 65-45 decision over Austin Peay at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday evening.
 
After back-to-back tough losses in league play, a double-overtime setback at Eastern Illinois and a late rally which came up just short against Murray State, the Gamecocks (8-8, 1-3 OVC) turned in the first double-digit win-margin in the JSU/APSU series in six years. They did it by limiting the Governors' (7-10, 1-3 OVC) options. APSU's Tearra Banks finished with a game-high 26 points on 12-18 shooting, but the rest of her teammates were shut down for a combined 7-35 (.200) from the court.
 
JSU was led by junior Tyler Phelion, who for the second-straight game turned in a career-high scoring tally, this time with 25 against the Governors. The Mobile, Ala., native was one of four Gamecocks with seven rebounds to tie for the team lead. Senior Briana Benson in a rare no-points day found other ways to contribute, also hauling in seven boards and dishing a team-best five assists. Lacey Buchanon was the only other Gamecock in double figures scoring with 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a busy afternoon.
 
Jax State quickly doubled-up APSU, 12-6, midway through the first. It was an energy-builder for a squad which failed to gain the lead in either of its previous two contests. Overall, JSU led for more than 37 minutes of game time en route to snapping a four-game slide. Phelion had 14 points by halftime as the Gamecocks led 33-22 after the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Govs made a surge right out of the intermission with a 7-0 run to close it to 33-29 with 5:50 to play in the third period. Junior Tasha Magruder, making her third start of the season, ended the run with an inside bucket for two of her career-best nine points on the day. Sophomore Rayven Pearson failed to score, but she was another Gamecock to grab seven rebounds as she played major minutes while spelling Phelion.
 
JSU increased its lead to 14 by the end of three quarters, the largest of the season in OVC competition. Gretchen Morrison helped seal the deal with going 5-of-6 from the stripe in the final period to finish with eight points.
 
Jax State will have a week off now before heading to Cookeville, Tenn. to face the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech next Saturday on Jan. 14. TTU currently sits at 2-2 in the OVC after defeating Murray State on Saturday.