RICHMOND, Ky. – Jacksonville State's women's basketball team put up a season-high 74 points as it knocked off Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Kentucky, 74-60, on the road Thursday afternoon.
 
The win was the third-straight for JSU (5-2, 2-1 OVC) as the Gamecocks picked up their first win away from home this season over EKU (4-5, 3-2 OVC). JSU has now won 12 of the last 15 meetings with EKU since Rick Pietri took over the program.
 
Last year when JSU visited Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Ky., it could only be described as a defensive battle as Jax State edged the Colonels 43-33, which marked the fewest points allowed to a conference opponent since joining the league in 2003. This time around was a little different as a revamped Gamecock offense scored at least 70 for the fourth time this year.
 
Senior Taylor Hawks came on strong in the second half to lead JSU with 14 points as the Gamecocks attacked with a balanced offense on Thursday. Keiara Griffin, Kiana Johnson and Yamia Johnson each went for 13 apiece. It marked a career high for the freshman Griffin, and matched a season-best effort for Kiana.
 
The offensive output was the first time JSU finished with four players in double figures since Nov. 24, 2019 against Fort Valley State, a span of 32 games. Reigning OVC Newcomer of the Week, Imari Martin, finished with eight points, almost pushed JSU to five in double digits, which would have been a first in three years.
 
A three from EKU's Bria Bass a few minutes into the game gave EKU a 5-2 advantage, but the Gamecocks quickly erased the deficit and went on to lead the next 36 minutes of the contest.
 
A jumper by Hawks in the final 20 seconds of the first half pushed JSU to its largest lead to that point at nine, which the Gamecocks held on to with a defensive stop on the other end before the intermission.
 
Yamia Johnson pushed it to double figures with an old-fashion three-point play to begin the third quarter to make it 37-26. JSU led by double digits most of the rest of the way as the Gamecocks outscored EKU in each of the four periods.
 
Along with her 14 points, Hawks ran down a team-high six rebounds, while Kennedy Gavin had five and Griffin, Johnson and Jessie Day each grabbed four.
 
JSU remains in the Bluegrass State to face Morehead State at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday. MSU beat Tennessee Tech, 65-62, on Thursday.