JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Just when it looked as though the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team might have found the combination to unlock a victory at Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon, the host Gamecocks found enough fuel in the tank to pull out an Ohio Valley Conference victory in the game's final two minutes.
Tech (7-17, 3-8 OVC) pulled to within two points on free throws by Samaria Howard with two minutes to play, and senior Mariah Dean rejected a JSU attempt as the shot clock was dwindling, but the rebound didn't cooperate. The loose ball fell into the Gamecocks, a 3-pointer that barely beat the buzzer found the net, and the hosts (10-13/5-6 OVC) claimed a 56-46 win.
It was the rule of thirds for both teams, with JSU winnng its third in a row and the Golden Eagles dropping their third straight.
Howard led all scorers with 21 points and added three steals, the lone Tech player to reach double figures. Yaktavia Hickson and Hannah Goolsby helped Tech post a 47-44 edge in rebounbds, each grabbing a career-high seven.
Jacksonville State was led by Briana Benson who posted 14 points and five rebounds while Rayven Pearson netted 10.
The Golden Eagles were deadly from the free throw line, hitting 16-for-18 for 88.9 percent, but never found the range from the field. Tech shot 24.1 percent overall, and went 2-for-14 (14.3 percent) from 3-point range. The Gamecocks didn't shoot much better in the defensive standoff, connecting on just 29.3 percent from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
Each team had 14 turnovers. Those shooting and turnover numbers reflect just how close the game was until JSU's 10-3 closing run made it a 10-point margin.
Tech led 12-11 following the first quarter, and JSU was up at halftime, 19-18. Tech scored just two baskets in the second quarter and the Gamecocks just three. Rebounds at halftime were an exact reclection of the score, with JSU up, 19-18 on the glass.
A 3-pointer by Howard followed by a jumper pushed Tech to an early 23-19 lead in the third quarter, but JSU bunced back with a 12-6 run to regain the lead. The difference was back to two points, 39-37, following three periods.
Tech ran into deep foul trouble in the fourth quarter, with Candace Parson and Lindsey Jennings each fouling out and depleting coach Jim Davis' options.
Howard hit three straight free throws to make it a 45-43 contest with two minutes to play, but the crucial 3-pointer by Destiny James as the shot clock expired gave the Gamecocks a little brething room and she followed with a layup for a 50-43 lead.
Hickson drained a huge 3-pointer to trim it back to four points, but it was the last time in the game that the Golden Eagles were able to move the net, missing their final three shots.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Nashville to take on Tennessee State in a 5:30 p.m. contest.
