MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After dropping a tight battle in Monday's overtime loss at UAB, Gamecock women's basketball will look for a quick turnaround as they travel to the state's capitol on Thursday night for another non-conference bout at Alabama State. The Yellowhammer State pairing will tip off at 6 p.m. at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery.
 
"This will be my third time playing in that gym and I've never won there," head coach Rick Pietri said. "SWAC gyms are hard to win in. (Alabama State has) played a ridiculous schedule already and they'll be at home for their only non-conference home game. We expect them to function at the highest level they're capable of, so we're going to have to bring a readiness with us."
 
Jacksonville State (2-4) posted consecutive wins at home over Alabama-Huntsville and Life University prior to Thanksgiving Break, but saw its streak come to an end earlier this week in Birmingham. A powerful Blazer offense put up 49 points in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and force overtime, eventually claiming the matchup, 85-78, in the extra period. Mississippi Gulf Coast transfer Elsie Harris had a career night in the Magic City, finishing with a team-best 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting with three made treys. Kristol Ayson (15 points) and Brooklyn McDaniel (13) also scored in double figures in the loss.
 
"Part of our improvement over the last few games has been a sustained effort, but part of it has come from a greater understanding of what it is we're trying to do," Pietri said. "While you're practicing against each other in preseason, there's certain things you don't encounter that you'll face in-game. Sometimes you have to experience some of that and learn how to manage situations, and I think we're getting better at that."

As the team reaches the midway point in its non-league slate, Ayson is tops on the squad in scoring with 10.8 points per game. Fellow first-year Gamecock Samiya Steele follows closely behind with 8.2 points per contest while senior forward Keiara Griffin is averaging 6.8 points. Griffin's 29 boards paces Jax State's rebounding efforts, and 24 apiece from Ayson and Anniston native Asia Barclay are good enough for second. Those standouts will look to continue their hot start to the 2023-24 campaign on Thursday at ASU (0-6).
 
Alabama State has faced rigorous competition to open the new year. They have lost six straight on the road, falling at Power 5 opponents Alabama, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt, and top-tier mid-majors Memphis, Samford, and SMU. The Lady Hornets, who are led by 26^th-year head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson, are coming off a 16-win season and a trip to the SWAC Semifinals.
 
Although ASU has not found the win column yet in 2023-24, they have plenty of size on the squad with a total of six players 6-foot or taller listed on the roster. One of their tall forwards, redshirt senior Shmya Ward, is a First-Team All-SWAC performer with nearly 1300 career points. She is first on the team in scoring (11.0 points per game) and second in rebounding (4.0 rebounds per contest).
 
"They have a lot of size inside, so we'll have to find a way to contend with that," Pietri said of the Lady Hornets. "Shmya Ward has put up great numbers in the post throughout her career and she's a handful. She didn't play against us the last two years due to injuries, so we'll face her for the first time."
 
Thursday's showdown in The Gump is the eighth meeting between the Gamecocks and the Lady Hornets since Jacksonville State's jump to Division I in 1995-96. Jax State secured a 4-3 series lead with their win over Alabama State last December at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Despite being outscored 12-1 in the opening period, Pietri's team bounced back with a massive second half to down ASU 71-60. Griffin had 14 points and three rebounds in the win and McDaniel added seven points off the bench. Steele, who transferred to Jax State over the offseason, played 36 minutes in that showdown for the visitors from Montgomery County.
 
Pietri enters 3-2 all-time against Alabama State. His 2003-04 South Alabama squad won 62-57 in Mobile, then suffered an overtime loss in Montgomery the following season. The 2019-20 Gamecocks made the trip to the Acadome in mid-November, falling by five points in a 68-63 heartbreaker. Jax State thumped ASU, 78-46, two years later, before cruising to a comeback victory last season.
 
The game will be broadcast on YouTube Live and Logan Maddox will handle the Gamecock Sports Network broadcast. Links to listen, watch, or follow along with live stats will be provided at Jax StateSports.com. In addition, score updates will be posted on Jax State Women's Basketball's X account (@JaxStateWBB).
 
"We defended excellently in the first half at UAB, but in the second half we were not nearly as good," Pietri said. "We have to find a way to sustain our defensive presence, effort, and understanding for longer periods. If we can do that while being able to have a good offensive output, we'll give ourselves the best chance to be successful."
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Basketball), Instagram (@JaxStateWBB), and X (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.