EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team overcame a second-half double-digit deficit on the road Saturday before falling to SIU-Edwardsville, 69-62.
 
The Gamecocks (10-13, 3-8 Ohio Valley Conference) saw three players come off the bench to score in double digits as Gretchen Morrison and Rayven Pearson led the way with 12 points apiece. Redshirt-freshman Jada Coggins had a career high seven points by halftume, before finishing the day with 10.
 
Briana Benson also recorded 10 points to go along with four assists and three rebounds. Lacey Buchanon had her streak of double figure scoring snapped, but dished a career-high 11 assists to propel others into the scoring column. Pearson led the way with 11 boards as part of a double-double performance.
 
The Gamecocks had to use a timeout not three minutes into the game as SIUE jumped out to a 6-0 from the start. Following the break, JSU went on a 10-0 run to take a four-point advantage with 4:47 remaining in the opening period. The Cougars responded to reclaim the lead, but Buchanon pulled JSU within two just before the quarter ended with a mid-range jumper.
 
The second period was highlighted by redshirt-freshman Jada Coggins' who first tied the game with a pair of free throws, then hit her first career three-pointer to give the Gamecocks the lead. In all, the Fayetteville, Ga., native totaled a career-high seven points in just five minutes in that quarter alone. SIUE led by three as JSU inbounded the ball with 3.9 seconds before halftime. Pearson hit a layup to make it 32-31 at the intermission.
 
With 4:03 to play in the third, the Gamecocks trailed by a game-high 10 points when Morrison came through for her first triple of the afternoon. The bucket sparked JSU's rally which cut the deficit to three points entering the fourth quarter.
 
In the final period, the Cougars immediately stretched its lead back out to seven, before Morrison and Coggins drilled back-to-back threes to make it a one-point contest. Benson found Tasha Magruder downlow on the following possession for a layup which put Jax State ahead, 58-57, with 5:36 to go.
 
Overall the lead changed hands 10 times during the game. It was all even at 62 with just over a minute remaining when SIUE took a two-point lead which soon grew to four as JSU's missed attempt at the other end turned inot a fastbreak return for the Cougars. JSU couldn't get the deep shot to drop in the end while SIUE hit late free throws for the final decision.
 
The road for JSU doesn't get any easier as the Gamecocks travel to Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday to face OVC-leader Belmont. The Bruins are unbeaten in conference play through 10 games.