MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Jacksonville State women's basketball returns to the road this week as it tries to bring an end to its two-game losing streak. Their Conference USA contest at Middle Tennessee will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and will wrap up the program's regular season series with the Lady Raiders.
 
"We're playing the best team in the league," head coach Rick Pietri said. "We'll have to perform at the no doubt, absolute highest level that we're able to function at to be able to compete."
 
The Gamecocks (9-14, 4-7) lost their lone pairing on the hardwood last week. Visiting Louisiana Tech held Jax State to 14-of-46 (30.4%) from the field and 4-of-18 (22.2%) from deep in a 61-51 result at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Madison McCoy was the only contributor to score in double figures, as she ended up with ten points and five rebounds, but Bre'Anna Rhodes (9 points, 7 rebounds) and Mya Barnes (8 points, 7 rebounds) neared double-doubles in the home setback.
 
Rhodes continues to pace the team's scoring (8.0 points per game) and rebounding (4.8 rebounds per game) efforts. Kristol Ayson (7.7 ppg) and Barnes (6.3 ppg) are just behind her on offense, and Asia Barclay (4.5 rpg) has been impressing with her abilities collecting boards.
 
Middle Tennessee (21-4, 11-0) has rolled through Conference USA competition in their pursuit of repeating as league champions. Their last loss was at national power Grand Canyon on Dec. 30, meaning the Lady Raiders are undefeated in 2024 and are a perfect 11-0 in CUSA action. MTSU rolled last weekend in the southwest, drubbing New Mexico State, 73-37, on Thursday, then coming from behind to win at UTEP, 56-41.
 
One of the Lady Raiders' 11 conference victories occurred in Calhoun County, Ala., on Jan. 24. Middle Tennessee handed Jax State a 66-45 loss at home, holding them to 17-of-61 (27.9%) from the field, 3-of-21 (14.3%) from the arc, and 8-of-17 (47.1%) from the charity stripe. Ayson had a team-high nine points and two steals in the defeat. Meanwhile, MTSU was led by Anastasiia Boldyreva (27 points, 15 rebounds, eight blocks) and Jalynn Gregory (24 points, eight three-pointers).
 
Jacksonville State's next opponent boasts an All-Star caliber roster. Preseason CUSA Player of the Year Savannah Wheeler averages 17.4 points per game and converts 43% of her shots, and Boldyreva has scored 14.3 points and grabbed 8.2 rebounds per game to go along with a league-leading 78 blocks this season. Boldyreva, Gregory, Wheeler, Acacia Hayes, and Ta'Mia Scott have each earned CUSA Player of the Week honors at some point in the 2023-24 campaign.

"You have to score (to beat MTSU)," Pietri said. "They're really hard to score against. And then defensively, you've got to try to find a way to get to their shooters. They're the best three-point shooting team in the league. You also have to account for the incredible advantage they have inside. That's why they're so good- because they can get you in a number of different places."
 
Pietri has experienced winning at the Murphy Center before, as his first squad at South Alabama posted a 79-71 triumph in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Jan. 13, 2001. This time around, he will look for his first win against the former Sun Belt Conference program in 21 years.
 
Wednesday's game will be covered on ESPN+ and Logan Maddox will have the call on the Gamecock Sports Network. Links to watch, listen, 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.