JACKSONVILLE – After splitting a pair of competitive road matchups last week in the Sunshine State, Gamecock women's basketball returns home this week to open their final homestand of the regular season. Jacksonville State will play host to Stetson at 6 p.m. Thursday evening ahead of Saturday's Senior Day meeting with Florida Gulf Coast.
 
A superb defensive effort down the stretch propelled Jax State (14-12, 7-8) to a 68-61 win at North Florida last Thursday. The Gamecocks forced a season-high 25 turnovers in that triumph at UNF Arena, and upperclassmen Kennedy Gavin and Kyra Williams led the way offensively with 18 and 15 points respectively. Two days later, Jacksonville State dropped a 59-53 heartbreaker in overtime at Jacksonville. Though Williams and Masengo Mutanda went off for 20 and 15 points, the Gamecocks could not capitalize on opportunities to put it out of reach late and fell in the extra period.
 
Rick Pietri's veteran team, who officially clinched a spot in the ASUN Conference Tournament following Bellarmine's loss on Sunday evening, has went through several ups and downs in the 2022-23 campaign. However, they will try to close it out strong with a successful homestand at Pete Mathews Coliseum, starting with a league showdown against Stetson (12-16, 6-9).
 
The Hatters enter this week's pairing in Calhoun County losers in three of their last four games but have played competitively in each of the previous three contests. They played FGCU to a slim 67-57 ballgame on Feb. 11 before upsetting Austin Peay, 53-48, last Thursday. Stetson fought throughout in Saturday's Senior Day loss to Lipscomb before eventually succumbing by 16 points.
 
Three players are averaging double figures scoring for Lynn Bria's squad- senior guard Jamiya Turner (11.4 points per game), freshman forward Jaelyn Talley (10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds per game), and Syracuse transfer Khamya McNeal (10.5 points per game). The Hatters have fielded an impressive defense as they surrender just 60.8 points per contest, but their offensive woes have held them back. They only score around 60 points per game.
 
Stetson won last year's meeting in DeLand, Fla., 70-66. Kennedy Gavin tallied a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, Shawnta Shaw had 16 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and four assists, and Imari Martin added ten points in that defeat. Unfortunately, poor ball discipline (18 turnovers) and three-point shooting (2-of-18) spelled doom for the Gamecocks as they fell to 0-8 all-time at Stetson.
 
This year, Jacksonville State has flexed its muscles in terms of being disciplined. They are eighth nationally in turnovers per game (12), 26^th in turnover margin (+4.62), 28^th in scoring defense (56.5 points allowed per game), and 57^th in defensive three-point percentage (28.5%).
 
Jax State is 6-10 all-time against Stetson and 6-2 versus the Hatters at The Pete. Their last win in the series came on Feb. 15, 2003, as the Gamecocks knocked off SU 80-71 in Jacksonville. Pietri's squad will try to end a two-game losing skid to the newfound conference rivals.
 
Thursday's game at Pete Mathews Coliseum will tip-off at 6 p.m. It will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Logan Maddox will have the call on the Gamecock Sports Network.
 
Links to follow along with live stats, watch, or listen to the game 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.