JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team makes a quick visit to the Music City on Wednesday to face Ohio Valley Conference frontrunner Belmont.
In their next-to-last road test of the season, the Gamecocks (10-13, 3-8 OVC) meet a Belmont squad which has won 13-straight overall, including all 11 conference tilts, dating back to a one-point loss on the road to Minnesota on Dec. 14. Last season's OVC Tournament champions have in all won 27 of their last 28 games against OVC competition.
However, if there was a team poised to slow down the Bruins and bring a halt to the streaks it could be the Gamecocks who own the top scoring defense in the league holding opponents to less than 62 points per game. Belmont enters Wednesday's matchup averaging 79.6 points per contest.
In the first meeting of the season, JSU had chances to hand the Bruins their first conference loss back on Jan. 18, but Belmont found a way to pull out a one-point win at Pete Mathews Coliseum, 54-53. It remains the closest margin of victory during BU's 11-game league run.
Senior Lacey Buchanon leads Jax State with a 13 PPG average in OVC action, joined in double figures by Tyler Phelion's 11.5 mark. Against SIU Edwardsville last Saturday, Buchanon saw her double-digit scoring streak snapped, but in the process recorded the most assists in a game (11) by a Gamecock in over three years.
Senior Briana Benson and junior Gretchen Morrison continue to be some of JSU's top scoring threats from the outside, while Phelion and Rayven Pearson handle the low post. Pearson finished her last game at SIUE with a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.
Game time Wednesday evening is set for 6 p.m. Gamecock fans can stream the contest through the OVC Digital Network, or tune in to the Gamecock Sports Network for the call from Mike Parris. Live stats will also be provided and links to all of these are available at JSUGamecockSports.com.
