ALEXANDRIA, LA – Jewel Jones hit 1,000 points for her career as the Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball team defeated Louisiana Christian University 74-60, to advance to the Red River Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament Semifinals.
 
"Shots weren't falling early," LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "I'm very proud of the adjustments we made at halftime and we started playing our brand of basketball. Very proud of our defensive end in the second half."
 
Jones came into the contest needing seven points to hit the career milestone and recorded eight second half points to eclipse 1,000.
 
"It was a shocker," Jones said of her milestone. "I really don't keep up with my points, I only care if we win games or not. So, when Coach [Perkins] called me over, I was like 'oh shoot' and I got the opportunity and was able to make a floater, so I was really happy about that."
 
She is the second Wildcat player to hit the mark this season, joining Amani Gray. Both players reached 1,000 points against LCU.
 
After two quarters of tight basketball, the Generals (22-7, 18-6 RRAC) trailed the Wildcats (10-17, 10-14 RRAC) by one, 30-29.
 
LSUA dominated the third quarter, outscoring LCU 25-10. The Generals held the Wildcats to just three field goals for a 27.3 shooting percentage. They recorded three steals and forced seven turnovers in the period. The Generals also doubled the Wildcats' rebounds, 12-6.
 
Dannah Martin-Hartwick poured in eight points in the third, knocking down 50% of her shots from long range. Justice Young tallied seven points, including a 3-for-4 mark at the free throw line.
 
The Generals ended the third quarter on an 8-0 run for a 14-point, 54-40 lead. Five more points to open the fourth extended the run to 13-0 and a 19-point gap.
 
"I'm proud of us for locking in and making those shots," Perkins added.  "Our transition offense was really good."
 
Martin-Hartwick led the Generals with 22 points. She knocked down six three-pointers. The fifth-year senior also recorded three assists and three steals. Justice Young recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Bendetta Peracchi finished with 11 points.
 
LSUA takes on Xavier (La.) in the semifinal game at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Laborde Earls Coliseum.
 
The two-seed Gold Nuggets advanced with a 76-64 victory over seven-seed Southwest (N.M.). Kam Shelley led XULA with 25 points, while Joy Campbell (17), and Janiya Reed (10) also reached double digits. The Gold Nuggets shot 44.6% from the field in the victory. When LSUA and XULA met during the regular season, XULA had the upper hand both times. The Gold Nuggets captured an 85-80 victory in New Orleans, before defeating the Generals 61-50 at The Fort.