MIAMI, FLA. – Jacksonville State women's basketball lost 62-52 to Florida International Thursday night at FIU. The Gamecocks loss to the Panthers ended a two-game winning streak in CUSA play that included wins over UTEP and New Mexico State last week.
 
The Gamecocks were led by Maria Sanchez Ponce with 14 points to mark her third game scoring double-figures in four games. Ponce was 50% from the field and from three in the loss. Bre'Anna Rhodes also reached double-digit scoring with 13 points on 50% shooting from the field as well.
 
The Panthers jumped out to an early 12-8 lead halfway through the first quarter before Ponce knocked down a three to put the Gamecocks down one. After FIU turned the ball over Rhodes hit a jumper to give the Red-and-White a 13-12 lead with 3:24 in the opening period. The teams went back-and-forth before Clara Gonzalez Planella hit a floater with four seconds left that was reminiscent of her game winning buzzer-beater against UTEP two games prior. Planella's shot gave the Gamecocks a 20-16 lead after one.
 
FIU crawled back in front 28-24 at the media timeout in the second. As the teams traded buckets, Jax State held a 34-32 advantage late in the first half. After a turnover by the Gamecocks, FIU's Fantasia James launched a half-court shot that found the bottom of the net to put the Panthers up 35-34 at the half.
 
The Panthers got up 38-34 early in the third, but the Gamecocks battled back beginning with a Mya Barnes three to make it a 38-37 game with 7:31 in the period. Ponce then recaptured the lead for the Gamecocks with a three-pointer to make it 40-38 following Barnes' three. FIU claimed a 44-42 lead at the third quarter media break that also sparked a 10-0 scoring run until Valentina Saric knocked down a three with 1:56 left in the third. FIU would go on to claim a 53-45 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
 
The Gamecocks could not get anything going offensively in the fourth quarter as they went on to shoot only 22.2% from the field in the period and not hit any of their attempts from three. The poor shooting led to the Panthers holding a 58-47 advantage at the 4:30 mark in regulation. Jax State got within eight after a pair of free-throws made by Asia Barclay, however the Gamecocks could never get any closer before the final buzzer sounded.
 
While both teams committed 24 turnovers, the 24 for Jax State was the highest amount all season who had previously committed 20 or more turnovers in only three games.
 
Planella had a team-high six rebounds and Samiya Steele had a team-best six assists.
 
The Gamecocks now head to Virginia for a showdown with Liberty on Saturday. That game against the Flames is set for a 1 p.m. eastern, 12 p.m. central, tip off.
 
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