EL PASO, TEX. – Gamecocks women's basketball dropped their second straight game this week on the road at UTEP Saturday afternoon. The Miners conquered Jacksonville State 52-44 in a game that was highlighted by double-digit scoring runs from both squads in the second half.
 
With the loss, Jax State is now 10-16 overall and 4-11 in Conference USA action. UTEP is now 10-15 and 3-11 in league play. Jax State won the matchup with the Miners earlier in the year and holds one more conference victory to have them one game ahead of the Miners in the league standings with only two more regular-season weeks in the season.
 
Clara Gonzalez Planella was the only Gamecock to score in double figures with 10 points in her second straight start. Asia Barclay added eight points and pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds. Samiya Steele led the Red-and-White in assists with four.
 
UTEP got out to a 6-2 lead early in the first before Barclay made a putback layup to cut it to two. After a UTEP three, Planella knocked down two free throws to make it 9-6 in favor of the Miners at the game's first media break. Valentina Saric tied the game at nine all with a made three before UTEP answered with a three of their own with 1:49 left in the first.
 
Another UTEP three made it 15-9, but Planella responded with a trey of her own to make it 15-12 with just over a minute remaining in the opening period. UTEP eventually took a 17-12 advantage into the second quarter.
 
Early in the second, UTEP extended its lead to 21-12 forcing a Jax State timeout with 8:17 on the clock. Planella made a layup, but it was negated by a UTEP bucket to make it 23-14 with 7:35 in the first half. Eden Sample scored five straight points before Barclay and Mya Barnes capped off a 9-0 Jax State run to tie the game at 23 with 3:56 in the second quarter.
 
Sample tied Barclay for second most points in the game with eight.
 
UTEP ended the run to make it 25-23 before Barnes sank another layup to tie the game again late in the first half. Kyera Thornsbury put the Gamecocks ahead 28-25 at the half with a made three as time ticked off the clock.
 
The Miners came out of the half and went on a 12-0 run to put them back ahead 37-28 with 5:17 in the third. Saric got the Gamecocks back within seven thanks to a made shot from beyond the arc with 1:05 left in the period before UTEP answered with a two to carry a 43-34 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Jax State got off to a 10-0 scoring run topped off by a Planella trey to force a UTEP timeout. The made three put the Gamecocks back in front 44-43 with 7:20 left in the game. Out of the timeout, UTEP regained control with a pair of baskets to make it 47-44. Both teams went scoreless for the next two minutes before a UTEP three extended their lead to 50-44 with 4:08 on the clock.
 
UTEP scored the final basket with a two-point jump shot at the 1:21 mark.
 
Jax State returns to the Pete Mathews Coliseum for their final home stand of the season on Thursday, Feb. 27, to face Liberty and Saturday, March 1, to take on Florida International. The game against FIU will be Senior Day. Tickets, live stats, and links to live stream the games are available at JaxStateSports.com.
 
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