JACKSONVILLE – Late-game heroics and a career-best 25-point performance by Kyra Williams lifted Jacksonville State's women's basketball team to a 69-62 triumph over Stetson in Thursday night's ASUN Conference affair.
 
"That was a big, big win," head coach Rick Pietri said after the victory. "We've struggled some in close games this year and just lost a tight one at Jacksonville on Saturday. We started hot and were in a good position, then Stetson came back and took the lead. It was great to see the team take those punches, stay with it, make plays late, and come out on top."
 
Williams, a fifth-year guard from Jacksonville, had 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting and drained five threes in the contest. That outing erases her previous career-best of 22 points set in Jax State's 59-39 win over Queens on Jan. 2.
 
"(Kyra) was absolutely electrifying tonight," Pietri said. "She's been lights out the past three games and did it again today. She had 25, and we needed every single one of those 25 against them.
 
"Something I've noticed over the years is when a senior is nearing the end, they start to up their game a bit," Pietri said. "Everything starts to click and they get a sense of urgency. I think that is what has happened with Kyra, and she's playing fantastic basketball as a result."
 
The Jax State offense raced out to a hot start, shooting 63% from the field in the opening quarter. Masengo Mutanda connected on two treys and finished with eight points in the first quarter, helping the Gamecocks build a 21-9 advantage through one. Stetson was able to battle back in the second. Lipscomb transfer Jordan Peete was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and added eight of her own in the interval, nearly singlehandedly drawing the Hatters within one possession midway through the frame. Jacksonville State made just enough noise down the stretch, however, to claim a 34-29 lead going into the locker rooms. 
 
Although a comeback by the Hatters generated some momentum in the second period, Pietri's squad quickly added to their lead in the second half. After an opening bucket by Stetson, Jax State proceeded to go on a 12-0 spurt where they held the Hatters scoreless for over half of the third. 
 
A 13-point lead entering the final stanza quickly went to waste when SU went on a run early in the fourth quarter. A flurry of turnovers snowballed into points for the visitors who generated a 14-0 run and capped it off with a go-ahead three by Khamya McNeal with 6:19 left. Fortunately, Jax State saved their best for last. Williams hit a nearly immediate three to give the lead back to the Gamecocks. They continued to add to it and put it on ice when Keiara Griffin converted an and-one with under 30 seconds left to create a three-possession difference. 
 
Griffin finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and one steal, and Mutanda had ten points, two steals, and one assist. Gavin did not reach double figures for the second straight game, but did end up with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 
 
Stetson finished with an astounding 42 points in the paint versus Jacksonville State's 16, but the Gamecocks led in nearly every other category. They ended with more points off turnovers (25 to Stetson's 19), fast-break points (14-4), and forced 18 turnovers by the Hatter offense. In addition, Jax State shot 21-of-44 (41.7%) from the field and 11-of-22 (50.0%) from the arc.
 
With a Kennesaw State loss to Florida Gulf Coast and a North Alabama win over Jacksonville, the Gamecocks are now tied with those two ASUN rivals for sixth place in the league with two conference tests remaining. 
 
Jax State will play arguably their toughest test of the 2022-23 season on Saturday at home as they host FGCU for Senior Day. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ and 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.