JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State University hit 14 of 45 shots from three-point range in picking up a 70-58 women's college basketball victory over visiting Georgia Southern both teams' 2020-21 season opener
The Gamecocks (1-0) held home court in the series with the Eagles (0-1) in which the home team has won every meeting.
The Eagles led early by a 4-2 score on a basket by A'Tyanna Gaulden and a pair of free throws from Ja'Nya Love-Hill, but Jacksonville State hit three straight three-pointers to push out to an 11-7 lead midway through the first quarter.
Gaulden scored 11 points in the second quarter as the Eagles closed to within four, but the Gamecocks ended the half on a 9-3 run to take a 34-24 lead into the break.
The Eagles again got to within four, 36-32, after a three-point play by Eden Johnson and a free throw by Shondell Vickers, but a 7-0 run by the Gamecocks reclaimed a double-digit lead it would not relinquish.
Gaulden scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Eagles, while Johnson hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor en route to 12 points, while Vickers grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Yamia Johnson's 16 points led the Gamecocks, with Taylor Hawks chipping in 10.
Eagle of the Game
Gaulden, the senior transfer from Arkansas, hit 9-of-16 shots from the floor in her Georgia Southern debut. She knocked down 4-of-6 three-pointers, while adding five rebounds and three assists on the day.
Stat of the Game
Jacksonville State's 45 three-pointers attempted were the most in a single game by a Georgia Southern opponent in school history, breaking the previous record of 42, set by Savannah State on Dec. 1, 2016. The 14 three-pointers made are tied for the fifth-most.
Quotables • LISTEN TO FULL POSTGAME COMMENTS HERE: GAULDEN MCCHESTER
Senior A'Tyanna Gaulden on getting the first game for Georgia Southern under her belt
"I'm glad to be back home, playing in my home state. I think we just need to be a little more focused for our next game, start out a little better and be prepared. But now we know what we need to do, now we got to go execute, learn from our mistakes and get just a little bit better."
Next Up
Georgia Southern returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Division II Augusta to take on the Jaguars at 2 p.m.
