Jackson's 39 points now most at home for Eastern

By Corey Stolzenbach, McAlester News-Capital

A'breon Jackson is in the record books.

The sophomore for Eastern Oklahoma State College scored 39 points at home on Thursday in the Lady Mountaineers' (5-18, 0-9) 123-115 overtime loss to Seminole State College at the Dunlap Field House.

Shonika Breedlove set the record with 38 home points against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 1996, and Raquel Grant equaled this mark in 2015. Vicky Shved's 48 points against Cowley County Community College (Ark.) in 1992 is still the school's single-game scoring mark more than a quarter of a century later.

Jackson said she was shocked when she found out she had the new record.

"I honestly didn't expect myself to be scoring that much," said Jackson, whose 276 points on the season lead the team and is No. 8 on the scoring list of Region II in Division 1 play of the National Junior College Athletic Association. "It didn't seem like I did, but I was proud."

She said she felt she needed to redeem herself after Seminole beat Eastern, 108-79, Nov. 30. Jackson had nine points in that game, with five rebounds, three assists and three steals, as well as the fact that she fouled out. She shot 3-of-11 from the field and 0-of-2 from the 3-point line. Jackson was 12-of-30 in field goal attempts, including 5-of-14 from beyond the arc, and she pulled down 11 rebounds and eight steals, nearing a triple-double.

"I knew I had to be another Bre when I played them the second time," she said. "I'm just trying to do everything I can to contribute to the team and help us get a win."

Eastern has lost 12 straight, still looking for its first victory since Nov. 30 against Oklahoma Wesleyan University, when they pulled out a 93-60 win. Getting a win is what motivates Jackson right now. Jackson said she thinks the team is drawing nearer to ending the skid, saying that she's feeling a win in Thursday's home game against Western Oklahoma College, a team that beat them, 85-77, Jan. 8.

Jackson said practices have been very intense recently, saying that she likes how the team has been coming together in recent games.

"We've been getting closer and closer the last two or three games, and I'm thinking Thursday is the day," Jackson said. "For the past two games, Eastern Women's basketball has been a totally different team."

As a sophomore, Jackson's season playing for the Lady Mountaineers this year is her last. She wishes to pursue a career in nursing, though said she might consider continuing to play basketball elsewhere if she gets a good scholarship, but said she isn't sure if she's gotten offers from other schools as she hasn't been focused on that moment.

If she doesn't get one, she talked about transferring to the University of Texas at Arlington for her nursing degree.