Georgia Southern University’s women’s basketball team shut down the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks 63-50 Saturday evening in its home opener at Hanner Fieldhouse,

With the aid of junior guard Anna Claire Knight, freshman guard Angel McGowan and their consecutive three-pointers, the Eagles shot to a 10-2 lead to start off the game. GSU held a 10-point lead before JSU junior guard Candace Morton aided the Gamecocks in a 6-0 run.

The Eagles then answered with a 15-4 spurt, creating a 15-point advantage for GSU. McGowan initiated the run with a triple followed by senior guard Mimi DuBose, who scored five points during the stretch when the Eagles were able to break out a 35-20 lead.

With an 8-2 run early in the second half, the Gamecocks were able to trim the margin 39-30, however, and the Eagles answered with a 14-3 run boosting the margin to 18 points.

Sophomore forward Briana Jones collected 13 points and 14 rebounds along with three blocked shots, and senior forward Danielle Spencer contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“I feel like I played a good game thanks to my teammates,” Spencer said. “They got me a lot of open shots and helped me to get my rebounds. As a team, we’re learning to dominate people and keep going at them, even if we have a lead. I feel like we can only get better.”

In the second half, Eagle sophomore forward Sierra Kirkland collected eight points and three rebounds, while Knight was able to contribute 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

“I’m very proud that we made the adjustments we talked about at halftime. I thought we really had some stretches in the second half where we were able to dominate on the boards and come up with all the loose balls,” head voach Chris Vozab said.

The Eagles never trailed on the way to their 63-50 victory over the Gamecocks.

“We definitely talk about just getting better every day, our next step for us is just being able to continue to make those plays and to extend those leads,” Vozab said.

GSU will take on California State University, Northridge tonight at 7 p.m.