NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – A hot start wasn't enough to hold off a physical Harvard squad as Jacksonville State's women's basketball team fell 69-62 to the Crimson on Friday night insde the Matadome on the campus of California State – Northridge.
 
Despite a 4-for-14 fourth-quarter shooting, Harvard (3-3) still shot 42-percent for the game, and didn't miss a free throw until the final period. JSU (2-2) hit a season-best nine three-pointers, but were outscored 38-26 in the paint where it struggled to slow down Massachusetts-based opponent.
 
Redshirt-senior Destiney Elliott poured in 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and four assists to drive the offense, while fellow senior Rayven Pearson notched another double-double with 14 points and 12 boards. Senior Brianna Perry added nine points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
JSU trailed 6-2 midway through the first before a three-pointer by senior Brianna Perry sparked a quick 12-0 spurt for the Gamecocks. Elliott followed with five points, including her first of five three-pointers on the night. Kiana Johnson then stole the Harvard inbound and drained a quick jumper to make it 10 straight for JSU. Johnson finished with eight points and a game-high four steals.
 
The lead grew to 20-10 following a tipin by Pearson with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. The Crimson closed the period on a 7-0 run, and opened the second on a 5-0 streak to grab a 22-20 advantage. JSU evened the score at 24 midway through the quarter, but shot just 3-of-16 from the floor in the second as Harvard took a 35-28 lead into the half.
 
The Gamecocks shot better in the third, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, but the Ivy League opposition continued their hot shooting evening averaging just below 50 percent from the field after three periods to lead 53-44 heading into the final stanza.
 
With time ticking below seven minutes to play, Pearson secured her double-double with a layup that pulled JSU within back within single-digits of the lead. Redshirt-sophomore Jessie Day buried a triple following the under-five media break to pull JSU within six for the first time since the second quarter, but Harvard responded as it had all night to extend the lead back to 11 almost instantly.
 
In the closely minute, Perry hit a three to make it 64-58, which quickly became 64-60 following another fastbreak bucket from Johnson with 21 seconds remaining. After the two exchanged free throws, the Gamecocks couldn't get a shot to fall in the final seconds as Harvard added a pair of late free throws to seal the win, 69-62.
 
JSU will play either Washington State or tournament host, CSUN, at 3:30 PST/5:30 CST on Saturday depend on the results of Friday's second contest.