Saturday, January 13
JACKSONVILLE
2:30 P.M.
Jacksonville State University
vs
Western Kentucky
Gamecocks Host Western Kentucky on Saturday
1/12/2024 2:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE – After scoring a massive win at home earlier this week, Jacksonville State women's basketball returns to action at Pete Mathews Coliseum this weekend in another key Conference USA showdown. The Gamecocks will welcome Western Kentucky to Calhoun County for a 2:30 p.m. bout on Saturday afternoon.
"We have to find a way to gear up again," head coach Rick Pietri said. "Our team was super invested and locked in. We were coming off a poor showing and really played well, bouncing back from that. Now we just have to see if we can follow one good showing up with another one."
Jax State (6-8, 1-1) picked up its first CUSA win in program history on Wednesday night with a 78-63 victory over Liberty at The Pete. A smothering defensive effort held the Flames to just 36.5% from the field and 1-of-18 (5.6%) from long range. Conversely, the duo of Jaz Spencer and Bre'Anna Rhodes scored a combined 40 points in the win, helping the Red-and-White stay undefeated all-time versus LU at home.
With another big outing against a solid opponent, Rhodes has now taken over the role of the team's leading scorer. The junior forward from Montgomery averages a team-best 9.0 points per game and also leads the squad with 66 total rebounds (4.7 per game). Kristol Ayson is just behind her with 7.8 points per game, and Spencer's productive Wednesday evening boosted her to third on the team with 6.6 points per contest. Those impressive performers will look for another good day of work on Saturday as they take on the Lady Toppers (11-6, 2-0).
Following a strong 2022-23 campaign in which they fell just short of topping Middle Tennessee in the CUSA Title Game and advanced to the WNIT, Western Kentucky has come back in a big way this year with numerous key wins thus far. The Lady Toppers defeated the likes of Mercer, Miami (OH), and Vermont in non-conference action and competed very well in narrow losses at Vanderbilt and Missouri State. They opened league play with a slim 68-66 triumph at Liberty last Saturday, then rushed out to a big first half and coasted to a 76-60 result over Sam Houston on Wednesday.
Preseason All-Conference USA selections Acacia Hayes and Alexis Mead have led WKU through their first 17 contests, averaging 16.7 and 10.5 points per game. In addition, Ole Miss transfer Destiny Salary- who missed most of the non-conference slate- is now available and is coming off a 19-point outing versus SHSU. Sixth-year head coach Greg Collins has put together another tall, athletic group that should compete for the CUSA title again this Spring.
"These guys are really good," Pietri said. "They're very talented, everyone can shoot it, and they're aggressive on defense. They present their own set of challenges. We'll have to be at our best, because they have a very good record and they've beaten some very good teams."
The Gamecocks and Lady Toppers have never faced off before on the hardwood, but Pietri's time at South Alabama saw him take on Western Kentucky 24 times. His Jaguar teams went 8-16 against that perennial Sun Belt power from 2000-13.
"When I was at South Alabama, Western was usually a team that was vying for a Sun Belt title," Pietri said. "We're playing them at home this instance, but it wasn't until my 12th year at USA that we beat them on the road. It's a program with a lot of tradition. (Collins) was there as an assistant my last year, so he's been a part of that tradition of success they've had."
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ray Hammett and Mickey Shadrix on the call, and Logan Maddox will handle the Gamecock Sports Network broadcast. Links to listen, watch, or follow along with live stats will be provided at JaxStateSports.com. In addition, score updates and highlights will be posted on Jax State Women's Basketball's X account (@JaxStateWBB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Basketball), Instagram (@JaxStateWBB), and X (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.
"We have to find a way to gear up again," head coach Rick Pietri said. "Our team was super invested and locked in. We were coming off a poor showing and really played well, bouncing back from that. Now we just have to see if we can follow one good showing up with another one."
Jax State (6-8, 1-1) picked up its first CUSA win in program history on Wednesday night with a 78-63 victory over Liberty at The Pete. A smothering defensive effort held the Flames to just 36.5% from the field and 1-of-18 (5.6%) from long range. Conversely, the duo of Jaz Spencer and Bre'Anna Rhodes scored a combined 40 points in the win, helping the Red-and-White stay undefeated all-time versus LU at home.
With another big outing against a solid opponent, Rhodes has now taken over the role of the team's leading scorer. The junior forward from Montgomery averages a team-best 9.0 points per game and also leads the squad with 66 total rebounds (4.7 per game). Kristol Ayson is just behind her with 7.8 points per game, and Spencer's productive Wednesday evening boosted her to third on the team with 6.6 points per contest. Those impressive performers will look for another good day of work on Saturday as they take on the Lady Toppers (11-6, 2-0).
Following a strong 2022-23 campaign in which they fell just short of topping Middle Tennessee in the CUSA Title Game and advanced to the WNIT, Western Kentucky has come back in a big way this year with numerous key wins thus far. The Lady Toppers defeated the likes of Mercer, Miami (OH), and Vermont in non-conference action and competed very well in narrow losses at Vanderbilt and Missouri State. They opened league play with a slim 68-66 triumph at Liberty last Saturday, then rushed out to a big first half and coasted to a 76-60 result over Sam Houston on Wednesday.
Preseason All-Conference USA selections Acacia Hayes and Alexis Mead have led WKU through their first 17 contests, averaging 16.7 and 10.5 points per game. In addition, Ole Miss transfer Destiny Salary- who missed most of the non-conference slate- is now available and is coming off a 19-point outing versus SHSU. Sixth-year head coach Greg Collins has put together another tall, athletic group that should compete for the CUSA title again this Spring.
"These guys are really good," Pietri said. "They're very talented, everyone can shoot it, and they're aggressive on defense. They present their own set of challenges. We'll have to be at our best, because they have a very good record and they've beaten some very good teams."
The Gamecocks and Lady Toppers have never faced off before on the hardwood, but Pietri's time at South Alabama saw him take on Western Kentucky 24 times. His Jaguar teams went 8-16 against that perennial Sun Belt power from 2000-13.
"When I was at South Alabama, Western was usually a team that was vying for a Sun Belt title," Pietri said. "We're playing them at home this instance, but it wasn't until my 12th year at USA that we beat them on the road. It's a program with a lot of tradition. (Collins) was there as an assistant my last year, so he's been a part of that tradition of success they've had."
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ray Hammett and Mickey Shadrix on the call, and Logan Maddox will handle the Gamecock Sports Network broadcast. Links to listen, watch, or follow along with live stats will be provided at JaxStateSports.com. In addition, score updates and highlights will be posted on Jax State Women's Basketball's X account (@JaxStateWBB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Basketball), Instagram (@JaxStateWBB), and X (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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