CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – A career-high 19 points from junior forward Keiara Griffin played a huge part in Jacksonville State's 59-51 win at Chattanooga on Thursday night. That serves as the first road win over the Mocs in program history and secured the 150^th triumph for JSU head coach Rick Pietri.
 
"What I've found over the years is that when you're able to be in a place long enough to reach a milestone, it means that you had a lot of people contribute to that," Pietri said. "The other thing that I've learned is that in order to reach a milestone, you have to have done well enough to still remain employed at the place that you're at. Fortunately, we've done enough here with this program for me to still have the privilege of being here. I'm excited for all of the young women who've put their heart and soul into the program over the last nine-plus years, for us to be able to reach 150 wins."
 
Thursday's game in the Scenic City was the final non-conference tune-up before ASUN Conference play starts Mon., Jan. 2 at Central Arkansas. That victory, the first true road win of the 2022-23 campaign, continues a now four-game winning streak for the Gamecocks (7-4) and is just the second home loss of the season for UTC (8-7).
 
After Chattanooga nailed consecutive field goals to open the game, Jacksonville State proceeded to go on an 11-0 scoring run to set the tone early. JSU led by as many as 11 points in the first and although the Mocs were able to keep it close down the stretch of the first period, the Gamecocks controlled a 15-12 advantage through one. Several key takeaways were important in the second frame, and Jax State's defense held UTC's offense to just 25% shooting, resulting in a 28-20 halftime lead.
 
Jacksonville State weathered the storm in the third quarter as Chattanooga gave them their best shot. The Mocs knocked down numerous contested shots, cutting the deficit to a single point entering the final stanza. Despite tying it in the fourth, UTC could never retake the lead. Five points from Griffin and a couple of clutch layups from Imari Martin gave the Gamecocks a comfortable lead. Fifth-year guard Shawnta Shaw hit all six of her attempts from the charity stripe in the final period to close out the eight-point road win.
 
Griffin ended up with 19 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Shaw added 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Kennedy Gavin, Kiana Montgomery, and NeKiyah Thompson finished with six points each in the Volunteer State.
 
"I've always had a lot of confidence in Keiara's ability to be an impact player and tonight she delivered for us in a very big way against a quality, well-coached opponent," Pietri said. "I was excited for her and in so, being excited for us that we get to see that. Hopefully, we get to see some more of that from Keiara."
 
Jax State outscored UTC 11-4 in points off turnovers and finished with 30 points in the paint. The Gamecocks had 14 points from their bench, seven second-chance points, and six fast break points.
 
"When you look at who we've played and particularly the way we started, I feel really good about how we finished the non-conference section of our season: to finish winning four-in-a-row with only one at home," Pietri said. "This was a true road victory. It's our first of the year, and again, against a quality opponent. For me, that's important as we head into conference play because we've done it already. We've won a true road game, so now doing it in league play won't be a new experience for us."
 
Jacksonville State women's basketball opens ASUN Conference play Monday on the road at Central Arkansas. That league showdown in Conway, Ark., will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. CT. JSU will return home to host Lipscomb and Queens (N.C.) next Thursday and Saturday respectively.
 
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