JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Brooklyn McDaniel scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Jacksonville State edged Sam Houston 69-68 in a Conference USA women’s basketball game Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Gamecocks (13-14) survived a late push from the Bearkats (16-9) before an announced crowd of 699. Sam Houston’s Fanta Kone scored 20 points, and Annika Corcoran added 18, including a trio of 3-pointers. The Bearkats, who led by seven after the first quarter, were outscored 22-19 in the third and could not complete the comeback in the fourth. Jacksonville State’s Mya Barnes added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Houston forced 15 turnovers but was outrebounded on the offensive glass 17-11.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, Brooklyn McDaniel’s dominant double-double and a critical final-minute sequence lifted Jacksonville State to a narrow 69-68 victory over Sam Houston in a Conference USA women’s basketball clash on Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The contest, witnessed by 699 fans, was a tense, back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than nine points and the outcome remained in doubt until the final possession. The Gamecocks improved to 13-14 overall, while the Bearkats fell to 16-9. The most decisive stretch of the game unfolded in the final 31 seconds. With Sam Houston clinging to a 66-63 lead after a pair of Annika Corcoran free throws, Jacksonville State inbounded the ball. Eden Sample found Mya Barnes open beyond the arc, and the Montgomery native drained a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game with 18 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Sam Houston’s primary scorer, Fanta Kone, drove aggressively to the basket looking to regain the lead. Her layup attempt was off the mark, and McDaniel secured the most important of her game-high 13 rebounds. She was immediately fouled with 6 seconds left. McDaniel, who finished with 21 points, calmly sank the first free throw to give Jacksonville State a 67-66 edge. She missed the second, but the Gamecocks retained possession when the ball went out of bounds off a Sam Houston player. Forced to foul again, the Bearkats sent Eden Sample to the line with 2.6 seconds left. Sample made both free throws, extending the lead to 69-66. Sam Houston had one final chance. Inbounding from near midcourt, the Bearkats got the ball to Corcoran, who was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer as time expired. She made the first two free throws to cut the deficit to one, but with no time remaining, her intentional miss on the third attempt was gathered by McDaniel to seal the win. The dramatic finish capped a game where efficiency was scarce. Both teams struggled offensively, with Sam Houston posting an offensive rating of 98.4 on 69 possessions and Jacksonville State at 99.1 on 70 possessions. The Gamecocks won despite shooting just 28 of 65 from the field and 7 of 14 from the free-throw line. Sam Houston was 27 of 64 and hampered by 10-of-17 shooting at the charity stripe. McDaniel’s performance was a monumental rebound from a recent scoring slump. After being held to single digits in her last three games, the forward played 36 minutes and delivered 21 points and 13 rebounds, providing the consistent interior presence Jacksonville State needed. Mya Barnes added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Maria Sanchez Ponce contributed 13 points and seven rebounds. Sam Houston was led by the dynamic guard play of Fanta Kone. The junior from Bamako, Mali, scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out four assists, though she was just 10 of 17 from the free-throw line. Annika Corcoran provided a crucial offensive spark off the bench, scoring 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Aysia Ward-Strong anchored the defense with 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while Nyla Inmon added 12 points and eight rebounds. The game’s tempo was set early by defensive pressure. Sam Houston forced 15 Jacksonville State turnovers, converting them into 14 steals. However, the Gamecocks dominated the glass with 17 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points that offset their own miscues. Sam Houston built its largest lead at 24-15 in the second quarter, but a 13-4 Jacksonville State run to close the first half tied the game at 24. The third quarter saw the Gamecocks build a slim advantage, which they held until Sam Houston’s fourth-quarter push, setting the stage for the frantic finale. The victory gave Jacksonville State a season split after losing to Sam Houston by 19 points on Jan. 29. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Sam Houston entered as a 57% favorite. Sam Houston travels to face Missouri State on Tuesday. Jacksonville State begins a road swing at UTEP on Thursday.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Sam Houston squad looks to continue its push in the Conference USA standings when it visits a struggling Jacksonville State team at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday. The Bearkats (16-8, 8-3 CUSA) enter on a strong run, having won four of their last five games, including a 72-66 road victory at Kennesaw State on Thursday. The Gamecocks (12-14, 4-7), meanwhile, have lost five of their last six, most recently falling 58-57 at home to Louisiana Tech on a last-second basket. This matchup is a quick rematch of a Jan. 29 meeting in Huntsville, Texas, where Sam Houston dominated in a 70-51 win. Jacksonville State will seek to defend its home court and avenge that lopsided loss. A key player to watch for Sam Houston is guard Whitney Dunn, who is coming off a 22-point performance in the win at Kennesaw State. Over her last seven games, Dunn has averaged 10.4 points and has been a consistent offensive catalyst. In the first meeting against Jacksonville State, she contributed 5 points in 21 minutes. Jacksonville State will counter with forward Mya Barnes, who leads the team in scoring and has been a defensive presence. Barnes scored 13 points in the first matchup against Sam Houston and is averaging 11.1 points over her last eight contests. She recorded a 20-point, 6-rebound, 4-block performance in a win over Delaware on Feb. 7. Sam Houston’s recent success has been built on balanced scoring and defense. Alongside Dunn, Aysia Ward-Strong and Fanta Kone have provided steady contributions. The Bearkats have held opponents under 60 points in six of their last ten games. Jacksonville State has struggled offensively during its slump, failing to reach 60 points in four of its last six outings. Protecting the ball and finding consistent scoring beyond Barnes will be critical against a disciplined Sam Houston defense. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Following this game, Sam Houston will host Louisiana Tech on Feb. 28, while Jacksonville State begins a two-game road swing at UTEP on Feb. 26.