JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's women's basketball team snapped a five-game losing skid Saturday afternoon in a 68-55 triumph over Louisiana Tech at home. The Gamecocks suffocated the Lady Techsters from the jump defensively and knocked down 92.3% of their free throws to help them take the win.
 
With the result, Jax State improves to 10-14 overall and 4-9 in Conference USA play. The win also improved the Gamecocks' record inside the Pete Mathews Coliseum to 9-4 this season. LA Tech's record sits at 13-11 overall and 6-7 in league play with the loss.
 
Jax State was led by Valentina Saric who set a new career high with 19 points. All of Saric's field goals came from three where she shot an efficient 55% on 11 attempts. Saric also made a free throw. Saric was joined in double-figures by Asia Barclay who had 12 points. Barclay had a double-double in the win with 13 rebounds to compliment her scoring efforts. Barclay was 5-9 from the field.
 
The Gamecocks stymied the LA Tech offense for the entire first quarter. Jax State held the Lady Techsters scoreless until 1:24 left in the opening period when LA Tech made a pair of free throws to make it a 15-2 Jax State lead. LA Tech did not hit a field goal until 55 seconds in the first when they made a three to make it 15-5 as the first quarter drew to a close.
 
In the second, LA Tech made cut it to 15-7 thanks to a layup. Saric answered that make with a three pointer to push the Gamecocks advantage to 11. After another LA Tech bucket, the Gamecocks went on a 9-0 run to make it 27-9 with 4:34 to play in the first half. Later in the second, Barclay made a layup to make it a 19-point Jax State lead with 2:39 left. The Gamecocks eventually took a 34-18 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Red-and-White got up by 20 with 7:06 in the third quarter after a pair of Elsie Harris free throws found the bottom of the net. Harris had six points and two assists in the game. Maria Sanchez Ponce made a layup and drew a foul with 5:53 in the third. She sank the free throw to give the Gamecocks their largest lead of the game at 43-21.
 
LA Tech cut it to 12 thanks to an 8-0 run in the third. Another Saric three fell to end the run and extend the Gamecocks' lead to 48-33 with under two minutes left in the third. Jax State would go onto hold a 53-36 lead by the end of the quarter.
 
Clara Gonzalez Planella put the Gamecocks back in front by 20 with a two-point jump shot to make it 60-40 with 7:56 left in the game. Eden Sample made a three with 4:06 on the clock to get back in front by 22 again. LA Tech got it down to a 13-point Jax State lead 1:11 remaining, but the Gamecocks strong defense helped them hold that lead until the buzzer sounded.
 
Jax State's defense boosted the Red-and-White as they held the Lady Techsters 25% shooting from the field and 26.3% shooting from three-point range.
 
Other top performers for the Gamecocks include Ponce who dropped nine points in the win. Kyera Thornsbury led the Gamecocks in assists with three in a little over 16 minutes of game action.
 
Next up, Jax State heads west for a pair of conference games against New Mexico State and UTEP. The Gamecocks open the road trip at New Mexico State on Thursday, Feb. 20, in a 7 p.m. central time tip. Jax State then heads to UTEP for a 2 p.m. central time start on Saturday, Feb. 22. Both games will be streaming live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at JaxStateSports.com.
 
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