Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky built a 12-point halftime lead, but a third quarter rally helped Jacksonville State to a 71-61 victory on Wednesday.
 
Shavontae Naylor scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Colonels (9-19, 6-9 OVC).  Alexus Cooper added 12 points.  Abby Wright and Jalen O'Bannon each scored 10 points.
 
Leading by just one at the end of the first quarter, Eastern Kentucky out-scored Jacksonville State 21-10 in the second quarter to grab a 12-point halftime lead.  Cooper got the quarter started by hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key.  After JSU scored to make it 17-15, EKU went on a 7-0 run.  Mariah Massengill's two free throws capped it and put the visitors in front 24-15. 
 
A jumper from Naylor stretched it to a 10-point margin, 28-18.  Cooper followed with another triple.  Massengill's jumper as time expired set the halftime score at 35-23.
 
Eastern made 48 percent of its first half shots while holding the Gamecocks to 29 percent shooting from the field.
 
Jacksonville State (13-14, 6-9 OVC) turned the tables in the third quarter.  After scoring just 23 points in the first half, the Gamecocks put 24 on the board in the third quarter.  JSU began the quarter with a 13-4 run to get within three, 39-36.  The home squad tied the score by stretching that run to 20-8.  A three-pointer by Gretchen Morrison and a basket from Rayven Pearson finished off the run and made it 43-43.  Two free throws by Morrison to end the quarter gave Jax State a 47-46 lead.
 
Eastern made just 36 percent of its shots in the third while the Gamecocks connected on 45 percent and out-rebounded the Colonels 17-4 in the quarter.
 
After EKU scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, Jax State used a 14-5 run to put the game away, going up 61-55 with 3:25 left.  Neither team scored again until O'Bannon hit a free throw with 1:43 on the clock.
 
Lacey Buchanon led JSU with 19 points.  Briana Benson had 17 points.  Morrison finished with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from long range.  Tyler Phelion scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
 
Jacksonville State out-rebounded Eastern 44-30 and did not commit a turnover in the second half.
 
The Colonels will conclude the regular season at home on Saturday against Tennessee Tech.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.