FINAL BOX

Jacksonville, Ala. --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team fell to Jacksonville State, 69-55, Saturday afternoon in Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Tennessee State (9-13) dropped its fourth straight contest and fell to 4-5 in the OVC. Jayda Johnson led TSU with 17 points and seven rebounds while Brianna Lawrence added 14.

Briana Benson led Jacksonville State (9-13, 4-6 OVC) with 21 points while Destiny James (14) and Gretchen Morrison (10) also added double-digits.

After playing to a 12-all tie at the end of the first quarter, TSU went without a bucket for first five minutes of the second period. During the drought, the Lady Tigers fell behind, 20-12.

Maxine Beard connected from 15-feet away to finally get TSU on the board in the quarter but JSU moved ahead, 25-14, a few possessions later. The Lady Tigers cut the deficit down to six points behind buckets from Brianna Lawrence and Tyesha Hood but the Gamecocks responded to push ahead, 31-20, with 2:36 left on the clock.

As the quarter winded down, a 6-0 spurt by TSU closed the gap to, 31-26, just before the halftime break.

TSU seemed to be on the verge of a comeback early in the third quarter but missed opportunities and turnovers led to JSU extending its lead to double-digits, 47-37, with 2:32 remaining. The Lady Tigers continued to fight and used a 7-2 run to make the score, 49-44, in favor of the Gamecocks heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, the TSU offense wasn't clicking and the Lady Tigers once again fell behind by double-figures, 56-46.

With 41.7 seconds remaining, Diamond Beatty drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to pull TSU within seven. The Gamecocks, however, were able to make free-throws and hold the Lady Tigers off down the stretch.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 3 against Eastern Kentucky at home. Game time is set for 11 a.m. in the Gentry Center for Kid's Day.

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