CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It was another tough road contest for the Jacksonville State women's basketball team on Saturday as the Gamecocks fell 61-51 to Austin Peay, after a late second-half rally comes up short.
 
JSU (7-4, 4-3 Ohio Valley Conference) falls to 2-4 on the road this season, in stark contrast with their unblemished 5-0 mark at home. The Governors (8-5, 6-3 OVC) now lead the all-time series 18-11 after their second win in a row between the two schools.
 
The Gamecocks struggled mightily from the floor, being held to its second-lowest point total of the season at 51, only behind the 47 allowed at Georgia in early December. Junior Yamia Johnson came on in the second half to finish with 16 points to lead the team, while Kiana joined her in double figures with 10.
 
With just eight made field goals in the first, JSU trailed by 17 at the intermission, down 35-18. Kiana Johnson made a layup on the opening possession of the third quarter to cut to 15, and the Gamecocks worked diligently to trim the margin below 10.
 
With under four minutes to play in the third quarter, APSU lead 44-29 when Imari Martin hit one of two free throws to spark a 9-0 JSU run. The charity stripe was also a challenge with Jax State connecting on just 12-of-21 attempts. JSU's run brought the Gamecocks within six with under 30 seconds to go in the third, before APSU's Maggie Knowles, who led the Govs with 11 points, hit a later triple to send it back to nine entering the final stanza.
 
A layup by K. Johnson early in the fourth made it 52-48, and a free throw from Taylor Hawks with just under five minutes to go brought it to a one-possession game. The Governors responded with a crushing three-pointer, one of nine the Govs connected on during the game, to regain momentum and stave off another comeback opportunity to win 61-51.
 
What's been a strong point for the Gamecocks this season, the three-pointer, was once again unkind to JSU on Saturday going just 3-for-13. For the weekend road trip, JSU made just six of 39 attemps from long range.
 
With its first back-to-back losses in league play, JSU faces a quick turnaround with a matchup against Tennessee Tech on Monday night. Fortunately, it will be back inside the friendly confines of Pete Mathews Coliseum where the Gamecocks have won six straight.