JACKSONVILLE – Following a thrilling last-second victory on Thursday night, Jacksonville State women's basketball will look for another ASUN Conference victory at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday. The Gamecocks play host to intrastate foe North Alabama with tip-off set for 1:45 p.m.
 
Jax State (10-9, 3-5) halted a four-game losing skid with a 43-41 triumph over Central Arkansas in their last outing. The Sugar Bears rallied to tie at 41 with under 30 seconds remaining, but a mid-range jumper from Kennedy Gavin with four ticks of the clock left put the Gamecocks on top for good. Now, Rick Pietri's squad will try for another signature win at home against a solid North Alabama team.
 
UNA (8-11, 3-5) played a brutal non-conference slate, suffering losses at Mississippi State, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh. The Lions are the only league team to have played FGCU twice in their first four ASUN games, but aside from their meetings with the Eagles, North Alabama has hung tight in every matchup they have played. Missy Tiber's bunch scored a blowout victory over Bellarmine, shocked Stetson 60-57 on the road in mid-January, and handed Kennesaw State a 69-66 setback in overtime on Thursday in metro Atlanta.
 
The Lions have a three-headed offensive attack split between Hina Suzuki (11.7 points, 5.2 assists per game), Jade Moore (11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds per game), and Skyler Gill (11.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game). Gill's 2.8 blocks per game lead the conference and are fifth nationally. Her strong defensive presence pairs well with a potent offensive that is fifth in the country in three pointers per game (9.6).
 
Jacksonville State's defense was smothering once again at The Pete on Thursday evening. The Gamecocks allowed the Sugar Bears to hit just 28.6% of their shots and forced 24 total turnovers. Although Jax State's offense went through scoreless droughts, it was their loaded defense that caused enough havoc to solidify their third ASUN win of 2022-23.
 
Pietri's disciplined team ranks among the best in Division I in several categories. Their marks in turnovers per game (12.5, 12^th), defensive three-point percentage (25.6%, 13^th), and scoring defense (55.0 points per game) are Top-25 nationally, while their +4.47 per game turnover margin sits at 30^th.
 
The Gamecocks are 16-13 all-time versus UNA and have won four straight in the series. North Alabama's last win came on Feb. 19, 1994 at Jax State, a 75-69 decision, sparking a run for the Red-and-White that has lasted nearly 29 years. Dating back to 1987-88, Jacksonville State has won 15 of the last 18 showdowns, including both of last season's pairings.
 
Saturday's game in Calhoun County will tip-off at 1:45 p.m. and will be part of a doubleheader. The men's basketball game against Austin Peay will follow with tip-off slated for 4 p.m. Both of those contests will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Mike Parris will cover the matchups on the Gamecock Sports Network.
 
Links to follow along with live stats, watch, or listen to the games will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com. Score updates and highlights will be posted on JSU women's basketball's Twitter account (@JaxStateWBB). 
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, be sure to follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State University Women's Basketball), Twitter (@JaxStateWBB), and Instagram (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.