JACKSONVILLE – Gamecock women's basketball will look to shake off a two-game losing skid in Wednesday afternoon's non-conference clash with in-state foe Alabama State. That showdown at Pete Mathews Coliseum will tip-off at 4:15 p.m. and will serve as Jacksonville State's final non-conference home game of the 2022-23 season.
The early portion of the season for Jacksonville State (3-4) has seen consecutive wins and losses emerge as a trend. JSU won their exhibition against Montevallo before thumping Shorter in their season-opener. After back-to-back road losses at Georgia and East Tennessee State, JSU rebounded with big triumphs over Life and Samford. Following setbacks versus Davidson and Ole Miss, Jax State is hoping the trend continues as they search for a big bounce-back against Alabama State (1-7).
The Lady Hornets enter the game with just one win through eight contests, but their lone victory was a big one. ASU downed a strong Samford squad 66-61 last Wednesday in Montgomery to tally their first positive decision of the year. Although they have taken their lumps, Freda Freeman-Jackson's team has been tested in non-conference play, taking on Power 5 opponents like Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Texas, and Texas Tech in tough road environments.
Alabama State has a pair of guards that have excelled on offense so far. Junior Jayla Crawford enters Saturday's game averaging 14.9 points per game and senior Ayana Emmanuel, who has 14.1 points per game while shooting .38.4% from the field, is coming off consecutive 20-plus-point outings. The Lady Hornets had an impressive 2021-22 campaign in which they finished 15-15 and fell 101-80 to Jackson State in the SWAC Tournament Championship Game.
Three Gamecocks scored in double figures last time out. In a 74-54 loss at Ole Miss,
Shawnta Shaw,
Kennedy Gavin, and
Kyra Williams had 15, 12, and 10 points respectively. Gavin was JSU's top rebounder in that matchup, finishing with seven boards in her home state. Shaw, Williams, and
Imari Martin are all scoring 10-or-more points per game, and Gavin's 7.1 rebounds per outing is a team-best.
Jax State is 3-3 against Alabama State since joining the NCAA in 1985. The home team has won each of the last six meetings, including a 78-46 blowout victory for the Gamecocks last season. That marked head coach
Rick Pietri's second career win against the Lady Hornets and his first at JSU. ASU, on the other hand, most recently defeated JSU in Montgomery, 68-63, in Nov. 2019.
Wednesday's women's basketball game versus Alabama State will precede a tilt between JSU's men and Reinhardt. That contest, also at Pete Mathews Coliseum, is set to start at 6:30 p.m.
Fans unable to attend Wednesday's game at The Pete can follow along with all the action via streaming or listening on the radio. Chase Robinson and Gerhard Mathangani will be on the call on ESPN+ while Mike Parris covers the matchup on the Gamecock Sports Network.
Links to follow along with live stats or to watch or listen to Wednesday's contest will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com. Score updates and highlights will be posted on JSU women's basketball's Twitter account (@JSUGamecocksWBB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, be sure to follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State University Women's Basketball), Twitter (@JSUGamecocksWBB), and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksWBB) accounts.
