HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Jacksonville State women's basketball saw its 2023-24 campaign come to a close in Thursday's 60-54 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship Quarterfinals. The Gamecocks could not recover from a poor start, falling to the Lady Techsters for the third time this season. 
 
"When somebody beats you three times, you might just have to acknowledge that they're better than you are," head coach Rick Pietri said. "I don't know how else to characterize it. I thought our group was going to have the right passion to fight with today, but we just didn't to start with."
 
Jax State (12-17) suffered from a slow start in the Rocket City. Louisiana Tech (14-18) held them to just a pair of made field goals in the opening period, and 12 points in the paint from LA Tech resulted in a 20-6 difference through one. The Red-and-White found more of a rhythm in the following interval. Though the Lady Techsters built as large as a 20-point advantage, a 10-0 scoring run- aided heavily by a pair of Elsie Harris treys- cut it to a 29-19 halftime deficit. 
 
The Gamecocks continued climbing back in the third period. After a couple early buckets for LA Tech, Jacksonville State proceeded to go on a 7-0 spurt to make it a two-possession difference at Propst Arena. Pietri's squad would eventually get as close as three points, but solid free throw shooting down the stretch clinched a postseason win for the Lady Techsters. 
 
Mya Barnes ended up with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks while Kristol Ayson added 11 points and five boards. Harris finished with eight points and two rebounds in Huntsville as well. 
 
"Without the offensive performance Mya had, we're not even in the game," Pietri said. "Mya really carried us through some very difficult times."

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