JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Charleston outscored Jax State by 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Cougars defeated the Gamecocks 66-47 in Jacksonville on Wednesday. Jax State looks ahead to a road contest with Utah Valley next week.
Jax State falls to 4-4 on the season while the Cougars improve to 7-1 with their lone loss coming to North Dakota State.
Valentina Saric was the lone Gamecock to finish in double figures, clocking out with 10 points, her second highest figure of the season.
The Gamecocks forced six first quarter turnovers, taking a 13-10 advantage into the quarter break. The Jax State defense stifled the Cougars, forcing a 3-for-18 shooting mark from the field and a 1-for-11 figure from three.
Jax State pulled ahead by as many as nine points early in the second quarter courtesy of back-to-back three pointers. Charleston erased the deficit in the final seconds of the half, however, knocking down all three free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to take a 30-29 lead into halftime.
Saric led all scorers with nine first half points.
Charleston took a 46-44 advantage into the final frame before outscoring Jax State 20-3 in the fourth quarter for the 66-47 win. The Cougars were led by sisters Taylor and Taryn Barbot, finishing with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Charleston out-rebounded Jax State 48-34, including a 20-12 advantage on the offensive boards. After closing out the first half shooting 28 percent from three, the Gamecocks could not find their stride in the second half, shooting 0-for-12 from three in the final two frames.
Behind Saric,
Eden Sample finished her evening with seven points while
Shaquice May had six points of her own.
Bre'Anna Rhodes led the team with seven rebounds.
Five other Gamecocks finished with four points while
Elsie Harris led the squad with three assists.
Charleston finished the game with 18 forced turnovers after only forcing six in the first half. The Cougars closed out the contest with a 31-13 edge in points off turnovers.
The Gamecocks return to the hardwood on Monday, Dec. 16 when they travel to Orem, Utah to take on the Utah Valley Wolverines at 7 p.m. Central Time.
