JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State women's basketball will tip off their season with an exhibition against the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Tuesday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The game is set for an 11:30 a.m. start.
 
"I've always treated, with all the teams I've coached, the exhibition as a dressed rehearsal," head coach Rick Pietri said. "This will be a dressed rehearsal for when it counts. Hopefully, for our team the work we've done behind the scenes and at practice will yield some positive results. It is a game where I intend to play everybody to get everybody a chance to get on the court."
 
The match up against the Chargers will be the second straight season the two squads have faced each other after Jax State won 67-53 at home last November in the regular season home opener for the Gamecocks.
 
After last season's victory, Jax State is now 2-0 against UAH since jumping to Division I in 1995-96. When both teams were Division II rivals, they met a total off 11 times with the Gamecocks claiming wins in eight of those games. Jax State sits at 10-3 all-time against the in-state Chargers.
 
Pietri's 12^th season leading the Gamecocks will feature eight returners from the 2023-24 team and four newcomers. Bre'Anna Rhodes highlights the returners after leading Jax State in scoring last year at 8.1 points per game. Rhodes also averaged 4.6 rebounds per contest. Other notable returners include the point guard tandem of Elsie Harris and Samiya Steele, forwards Asia Barclay and Mya Barnes, and Shaquice May, Eden Sample, and Brooklyn McDaniel on the wing.
 
One of the biggest additions to the Gamecocks is transfer Valentina Saric who comes to Calhoun County after a two-year stint at Morehead State. Saric averaged 8.3 points per game and shot 48.15% from three for the Eagles last season in her sophomore year before being injured. The Gamecocks also welcomed junior college standout Clara Gonzalez Planella, NAIA star transfer Maria Sanchez Ponce, and notable freshman Kyera Thornsbury.
 
"Just like anything in preseason practice, there's things that encourage you, there's things that concern you," Pietri said. "Hopefully, the things that I'm encouraged about, I'll continue to be encouraged about. Hopefully, the things concern me, we will be able to address and manage in a positive way."
 
The Gamecocks are coming off a 12-17 record and a 7-9 finish in their inaugural Conference USA season. After a fifth-place finish in the regular season conference standings, the Gamecocks eventually fell in the conference tournament to Louisiana Tech.
 
UAH is coming off a 9-18 record from a year ago. The Chargers are projected to finish 10^th in the Gulf South Conference after failing to reach 10 or more wins for two straight seasons. UAH does have two of their juniors on the GSC Newcomer Watchlist in UNC-Ashville transfer Millie Brown and Trevecca Nazarene transfer Lili Wilken.
 
Tuesday's game will not be aired on ESPN+ as it is an exhibition. However, admission is free as it is the Gamecocks' annual Education Day where schools from the surrounding area can bring students to enjoy some midday basketball. Live stats will also be available at JaxStateSports.com.
 
"We know that it's going to be a great atmosphere with the kids here for Education Day," Pietri said. "Hopefully, we put on a good show for those in attendance."
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Basketball), Instagram (@JaxStateWBB), and X (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.