NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team defeated Tennessee State on the road Thursday evening, 75-56, inside the Gentry Center to improve to 3-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play for the first time in program history since joining the league prior to the 2003-04 season.
 
Jax State's last 3-0 conference start came in its final season in the Atlantic Sun Conference during the 2002-03 season, where the Gamecocks began the year 5-0.
 
For the second consecutive game, the Gamecocks (9-5, 3-0 OVC) saw four players reach double-digits in the scoring column, led by sophomore Morgan Towell's career-high 17. Seniors Ki-Ki Patterson and Tyler Phelion joined freshman Taylor Hawks all with 10 points apiece. Rayven Pearson had just six points, but hauled in 10 boards for her sixth-straight game of 10-or-more rebounds.
 
The Gamecocks' league-best scoring defense held TSU to just 1-for-13 shooting in the opening period, but the Tigers made their way to the charity stripe where they went 8-for-8 to keep it tight in the first. Phelion made a layup as the first quarter came to a close to give JSU a 15-10.
 
Towells and Leah Strain began the second with back-to-back threes to hand JSU a 21-10 advantage and spark a 21-point quarter for the Gamecocks. JSU would lead by as many as 17 in the period, 33-16, before heading to the half up 36-22.
 
JSU hit 11 three-pointers on the night, the second most in a game this season. Freshman Kiana Johnson's triple early in the third propelled the Gamecocks toa 20-point advantage, 44-24. The Lady Tigers were able to cut the deficit back to 13 by the end of the third with the help of Tia Wooten who would lead TSU with 28 points.
 
With 6:37 remaining in the final period, TSU was building momentum back within seven, before Towells drained her final three of the contest to push the margin back to 10. Down the stretch, JSU made its free throws to fend off any late Tiger rally. JSU was 16-27 on the night at the line.
 
After taking the lead on its opening possession of the game, Jax State led for more than 39 minutes of the contest as the Gamecocks snapped a three-game road skid.
 
JSU will remain in the Music City to face Belmont on Saturday in a battle of unbeatens within the OVC. The Bruins beat Tennessee Tech, 78-59, on Thursday to also move to 3-0 in league play.