JACKSONVILLE – Jax State women's basketball suffered a 60-55 set back against Liberty Thursday inside Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks were led offensively by Adriana Jones who scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and hit 2-of-3 three-point attempts. Eden Sample and Maria Sanchez-Ponce tied with nine points. Mya Barnes had a team-best 11 rebounds against the Flames.
 
Liberty got out to 10-6 lead by the media timeout in the first quarter. Out of the short break, Jax State outscored the Flames 10-0 to go up 16-10 heading into the second. Sample led the Gamecocks with six points thanks to a pair of made threes after the first. Meanwhile, Jones had five of her 10 points in the first.
 
Mina Djurdjevic nailed a three with 4:23 left in the second to tie the game at 22 all. After going down 24-22, Makala Hobdy made a layup to put Jax State back in front 25-24 with three minutes before halftime. Jones hit a jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the second to make it 30-29 Gamecocks before Liberty made a buzzer-beating layup to take a 31-30 advantage into the break.
 
The Flames went ahead by six early in the third before Hobdy made a three to get the Gamecocks back within three. Sample then knocked down a three to make it 37-37 with 5:56 left in the third. Liberty's Avery Mills hit three-straight threes to make it 49-41 Flames with 14 seconds in the third. Liberty eventually held a 50-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Mills finished with a game-high 27 points.
 
Ponce made it a one-point Liberty lead thanks to a three with 9:14 left in regulation. Out of a Liberty called timeout, the Flames extended their lead to 58-49. Brooklyn McDaniel cut it to 58-55 Liberty thanks to a layup with 2:00 on the clock. The Flames hit a layup with 14 seconds left to make it 60-55.
 
Hobdy and McDaniel finished with seven points. Barnes added six points in a team-high 37:46 minutes played. Barnes, Hobdy, and Kyera Thornsbury tied for a team-best three assists.
 
The Gamecocks are back in action Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Pete Mathews Coliseum against Delaware. The game is free admission for all fans.
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Basketball), Instagram (@JaxStateWBB), and X (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.