Final Stats

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's women's basketball team successfully opened the Annette Watts era on Sunday with a convincing 77-62 win over Stillman College at Pete Matthews Coliseum.

The season opening win was the first for the Gamecocks since a win over Kennesaw State to start the 2006-07 campaign. The 15-point win is the highest season-opening margin of victory since a 35-point win at South Alabama to start the 2000-01 season.

Senior Danielle Beneby, who has been with the from for the past three years, keyed JSU's win for Watts in her debut. The guard from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. registered her first career double-double in the 15-point win. Beneby established a new career-best in rebounds with 11 and turned in 14 points. She also dished out a trio of assists in the contest.

Jax State led from the opening tip to the final buzzer thanks to a great first ten minutes of the opening half. The Red and White pushed its lead out to double figures seven minutes deep into the contest at 16-6. The Tigers of Stillman used a three-minute, 8-3 scoring run to cut the deficit down to five points at the 10:53 mark. JSU quickly pushed its advantage back out to double digits, including its largest lead of the opening half at 36-21 with just over four minutes left in the half. The Gamecocks took a 44-35 lead into the halftime break.

The Gamecocks took their largest lead of the affair at 61-41 on a Beneby free throw with 9:52 left in the game. SC would get within 14 points with just over five minutes left on the clock, but that would be as close as the Blue and Gold would get.

Junior Brittany Wiley, a preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, poured in 14 points in the opener. Playing in her first collegiate game, freshman JaDechia Hill came off the bench for eight points. Brittany Manning, playing her first game in a JSU uniform after sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, also pitched in eight points in a starting role. Sophomore Danielle Vaughn posted eight points as well in the contest.

JSU controlled the paint, out-scoring the Tigers 48-16 and took advantage of second chance opportunities as it finished with 28 second chance points. JSU also out-rebounded SC 59-37.

Jasmon Hazley led SC in scoring with 12 points.

The Gamecocks will have a pair of road tests this week as they travel to Troy, Ala. on Wednesday, Nov. 17, to face in-state nemesis Troy before visiting Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 20. Tip off for the Troy duel is set or 7 p.m.