TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Jacksonville State 65, Lipscomb 63
@Tennessee Tech 75, ULM 68
JACKSONVILLE STATE 65, LIPSCOMB 63
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State women's basketball team overcame a double-digit first-half deficit to rally for a 65-63 win over visiting Lipscomb in Tuesday's Kid's Day game.
The Gamecocks (2-1) trailed after each of the first three periods, and for more than 25 minutes altogether, before grabbing a lead down the stretch and held on to the narrow advantage. It marks JSU's second-straight win of the season, and against the Bisons (0-2), who Jax State beat on the road last November.
For the third time in three games, a different Gamecock led the scoring with sophomore Yamia Johnson bursting through for a season-high 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Destiney Elliott also found double figures with 10 points and added four rebounds. Overall, JSU was consistent under the basket with with eight Gamecocks hauling in three-or-more boards led by senior Brittany Webster's six.
JSU won the rounding battle, recorded four more blocks and seven more steals, and had two fewer turnovers which all proved vital in the tight outcome. Not only does the victory push Jax State above .500 on the season, but it marks career win no. 312 for head coach Rick Pietri, who surpasses former University of Alabama women's coach Rick Moody (1999-05) for second-most NCAA Division I wins in the state of Alabama. Auburn's former head man Joe Ciampi (1979-04) tops the list with 568 career wins.
Lipscomb raced out to a 13-4 lead to begin the day, and led by as many as 12 in the opening quarter at 19-7. From there, a three-pointer from Johnson began the slow climb back for JSU. Junior Jayla Walker buried two early treys in the second quarter and JSU was back within two, 22-20, with 6:25 left until halftime. A driving layup by Hawks handed JSU its first lead at 26-24, capping a 19-5 run in just over seven minutes of game action. LU reclaimed the lead just before the half, but another triple from Johnson pulled the Gamecocks within a point at the intermission, 33-32.
After Webster tied the game with an early free throw in the third, Elliott drained a deep three from beyond the top of the key to push JSU out front, 36-33. Later tied at 40, LU added back-to-back baskets to take a 45-42 advantage into the final period.
Still down three with under six minutes to play, Chloe Long hit a long jumped from the right baseline that barely beat the shot clock horn to make it a one-point game again just before Elliott connected on a triple from the right corner to send JSU ahead and force the Bisons to call timeout.
A three-minute scoring drought for LU in the middle stages of the fourth allowed a 10-0 JSU run to send the Gamecocks from down five to ahead by as many. Freshman Nekiyah Thompson finished 6-of-8 from the free-throw line where she helped ice the game in the final minutes. The Bisons had a three-ball attempt to tie the game with 22 seconds left, but missed, and a final missed free throw by JSU in the final seconds wound up in the hands of the Gamecocks to seal the victory.
Jax State remains in-state, but will hit the road for a couple of games at Troy on Saturday and then at Alabama State next week.
TENNESSEE TECH 75, ULM 68
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Tennessee Tech defeated ULM, 75-68, on Tuesday to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Golden Eagles outscored the Warhawks, 26-15, in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Mackenzie Coleman led Tennessee Tech with 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. She also had seven rebounds, one steal and four blocks.
Anacia Wilkinson notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Kesha Brady added 12 points and five rebounds. She was 9-of-10 from the line in the win.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they travel to Southern Illinois.