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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Senior guard Almesha Jones set Morehead State's career assist record Saturday afternoon in a 72-64 women's basketball setback at Jacksonville State.
Jones broke Irene (Moore) Strong's record, held for more than 30 years. Moore compiled 499 handouts from 1978-82. Jones now has 502 career assists.
Jacksonville State halted an eight-game losing to MSU, improving to 13-7 overall and 4-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Eagles slipped to 8-12 overall and 4-3 in the league.
Jones registered a team-best 23 points, her 21
st career game above 20. She also had four steals.
"I am very happy for Almesha," Head Coach Greg Todd said. "She has had a great career at Morehead State. It's hard to believe she gets so many assists because she also scores so much for us too. Tonight, I thought she did a nice of job of trying to 'will' us to come back."
Destiny McLin totaled a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) for the home team, which is now 8-1 in Pete Mathews Coliseum this year. Briana Benson started for just the third time this season and responded with five three-pointers and a team-high 17 points. Candace Morton netted 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.
JSU nailed eight three-pointers, while MSU managed just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc. The Eagles held a 44-28 advantage in points in the paint. MSU also hit just 5-of-13 at the free throw line.
Morehead State got a team-best 10 rebounds from freshman forward Eriel McKee. She came up just shy of her seventh double-double with nine points.
The hosts erased an early 7-3 MSU cushion with an 11-3 scoring flurry. The Gamecocks went on to lead by 11 (36-25) at the half. JSU pushed its lead out to 47-31 early in the final half.
MSU nearly doubled the Gamecocks in points over the next six minutes and trimmed its deficit to 59-52 with 9:27 left. That was as close as MSU got though the rest of the day.
"We would have liked to have been more competitive," Todd added. "But I was pleased with our second half."
Jacksonville State shot 44 percent (29-of-65) overall, while MSU connected on 44 percent (28-of-64) as well. MSU nailed 48 percent (17-of-35) in the final 20 minutes. JSU won the rebound battle, 44-36.
Morehead State will head north to face OVC foe Tennessee Tech Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
