JACKSONVILLE – A career night by Rachel Johnson paved the way for Jacksonville State's 80-63 triumph over second-place FIU on Saturday afternoon at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Johnson poured in a game-high 25 points with seven three-pointers, helping the Gamecocks pull away in the second half of the Conference USA tilt. 
 
"That's an enormous win for us," head coach Rick Pietri said. "They had some people missing, but they have some really good players. That's an extremely deep team. What I'm really impressed with is that in the first half, we got off to a great start, and they just punched us right back and took the lead. Then, we were able to show some resolve, fighting back to take it into halftime tied.
 
"In the second half, we led the whole way," Pietri said. "We came out with great energy to start, we managed their pressure, and we made enough plays. I'm really proud of this group for the way they battled, fought, and put themselves in a position to win this game."
 
Jax State (10-15, 5-8) dominated the early going, forcing five turnovers by the FIU (18-10, 9-4) offense that directly resulted in 10 points. They led by as many as a dozen in the first few minutes before the Panthers, guided by Mya Kone's 12 points, clawed back to make it a 19-18 game at quarter's end. The visitors eventually took the lead in the second, building as large as a six-point advantage. Fortunately for the Red-and-White, some clutch shots late in the period fell to tie it, 33-33, at the break. 
 
The third period was taken over by Rachel Johnson. Just as the Panthers experienced shooting woes, missing their first ten shots of the frame, the graduate guard from Eufaula began to heat up. She ended up sinking five threes in the quarter, powering Jacksonville State to a 57-44 lead going into the fourth. That separation was maintained throughout the final stanza as the Gamecocks coasted to a massive home victory.
 
Johnson was 9-of-11 shooting and 7-of-9 from long range in the win. Her 25 points are the most scored by a member of the team this season. Bre'Anna Rhodes had 16 points, eight rebounds, and four steals and Madison McCoy added ten points, six rebounds, and three blocks. 
 
"(Johnson) was unbelievable," Pietri said. "Without her, we don't win. We've been struggling shooting the ball, and she just came out in the second half and shot the lights out. Every open shot she had, she made. It was a good thing to see us shoot the ball and it go in the basket."
 
Jax State scored 21 points off 18 Panther turnovers and added 15 second chance points off 20 offensive rebounds. They out-rebounded FIU 45-38 and won despite being out-shot from the field and the arc. 
 
"It's absolutely enormous to get this one," Pietri said. "The kids have a well-deserved day off tomorrow, and then we've got a long trip ahead of us next week. But I'm super proud for these kids and what they were able to accomplish today."
 
The Gamecocks continue Conference USA play next week with a pair of tests a long way from home. They travel to El Paso, Texas, next Thursday to take on UTEP, then round out the trip across the southwest with a Saturday afternoon affair at New Mexico State. Those games will start at 8 p.m. CT and 3 p.m. CT respectively and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Gamecock Sports Network.
 
Links to listen, watch, or follow along with live stats for those games 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.