JSU Women Host Tennessee Tech on Senior Day - Jacksonville State University Athletics

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's basketball team will celebrate Senior Day as the Gamecocks host Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Head coach Rick Pietri loses four standout seniors following the year, a quartet which has totaled more than 2,700 points in Gamecock uniforms. Seniors Briana Benson, Kelly Naughton, redshirt-senior Destany McLin, and transfer Lacey Buchanon will be recognized prior to Saturday's 4:30 tip-off against TTU. Fans are encouraged to arrive to watch the Senior Day presentation.

Benson, a native of Jonesboro, Ga., currently ranks ninth all-time on JSU's career scoring list with 1,139 points. It's the sixth highest total in Jax State's Division I history. Already the school's career three-point leader, Benson is the only Gamecock in program history to eclipse 200 triples. She enters Saturday's game with tied for 10^th on the Ohio Valley Conference all-time list with 206. She'll attempt to record her 55^th career double-digit scoring game against the Golden Eagles, which would place her third in that category of the JSU record books.

Fellow 1,000-Point Club member, Destany McLin will also be recognized on Saturday, unfortunately the Athens, Ala., product saw her final season cut short due to injury. Prior to going down, McLin reached the 1,000 mark on Dec. 31 with a season-high 14 at Eastern Illinois. McLin's 11th-place spot on JSU's scoring list is topped by her 10^th-place ranking with 524 career rebounds.

Naughton's started the last 15 games of her season campaign. The fourth-year guard out of Elk Grove, Ill., joins her graduating teammates in playing their final Saturday game at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Since seeing her playing time increase since entering conference play, She's hit a career-high 17 three-pointers this season. Naughton's totaled 84 points overall, sending her career total over 300. She's also dished 255 career assists,

Finally, local Jacksonville, Ala., native Lacey Buchanon will be recognized after playing her first season for the Red and White since transferring from Troy a season ago. In 25 games, Buchanon's totaled 265 points, 70 assists and 28 steals. She scored a career-best 21 at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 31, topping her previous collegiate high of 19 set for Troy during the 2014-15 season. Her buzzer-beater against Morehead State remains a highlight of the season, as a critical win keeping the Gamecocks in the hunt for postseason action.

Coming off a 69-56 victory over Tennessee State one week ago at The Pete, the Gamecocks (11-14, 4-9 Ohio Valley Conference) remain alive for a spot in the OVC Tournament beginning in March. JSU will need to win its final three games of the season, beginning with the Golden Eagles (10-16, 7-6 OVC) who rallied earlier in the year to top Jax State, 56-54, in Cookeville, Tenn.

JSU students and fans ages 18 and under receive free admission. The game will be carried on the OVC Digital Network while live stats are available at JSUGamecockSports.com.

Saturday's matchup marks the 29^th meeting between JSU and Tech, with TTU holding a 20-8 series advantage. The Gamecocks have dropped consecutive games on the road, but haven't lost to the Golden Eagles at home since 2012. A win would be career victory No. 275 for Pietri, and move him into fourth-place all-time for collegiate women's basketball victories in the state of Alabama.

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Players Mentioned

Briana Benson

Lacey Buchanon

Destany McLin

Kelly Naughton

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