JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team is set to host Southeast Missouri State in the annual "Education Day" game in a Wednesday matinee at The Pete.
 
The Gamecocks (10-11, 3-6 Ohio Valley Conference) have won back-to-back games including a buzzer-beater victory over Morehead State on Saturday. JSU shares an Identical conference record as the visiting Redhawks who are 9-13 overall. The two schools have met once each season since 2012, and the Gamecocks look to continue a streak which has seen the home team win each of the previous four years.
 
Wednesday's action begins at 11:30 a.m. as the Gamecocks and Redhawks tip-off in front of what's sure to be an excited crowd. Several school children from local schools will be in attendance as part of JSU's annual event. Those at the game will participate in halftime activities such as musical chairs and free throw competitions as well as several promotional timeout games.
 
JSU leading scorer Briana Benson is joined by Lacey Buchanon and Tyler Phelion as Gamecocks averaging double-digit points this season. The Gamecocks also boast the top scoring defense in the conference holding opponents to under 64 points per contest. SEMO enters the game averaging 74 and features one of the top three-point shooting units in the league led by Hannah Noe.
 
Rayven Pearson, coming off a career-high 17 points versus MSU, joins Phelion and newcomer Tasha Magruder as top rebounders for the Gamecocks allowing JSU three more boards per game than the opponent. Jax State has limited second-chance opportunities for its opposition to 10 or fewer points in 13 of the last 14 games.
 
Wednesday's game will be streamed on the OVC Digital Network free of charge with live stats available online at JSUGamecockSports.com. Following Southeast Missouri, JSU will make its second trip in as many months to Illinois to face Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Saturday, Feb. 3. The Cougars sit two games ahead of JSU in a tie for third-place in the conference standings.