Jacksonville State Gamecocks

2024-25 Record: 10-20 (4-14)

Head Coach: Rick Pietri’s (13th season) remains the cornerstone of the Jacksonville State women's basketball program. The 60-year-old coach, a New Orleans native, has established himself as the school's all-time winningest head coach with 181 victories over his tenure. His veteran presence stabilizes Jacksonville State, which really needs a bounce-back year.

Unfortunately, the Gamecocks boast a tough road slate, including trips to MTSU and WKU in February. Still, under-estimate at your own peril. Jax State has been one of the more consistent programs (181-172) under Pietri’s leadership. From a 1-27 squad to 24-win ASUN champs and WNIT bids, his defense-first blueprint (top-25 in turnovers forced) elevates underdogs.

Fifth-year forward Mya Barnes (6-0, Montgomery) returns as a preseason All-CUSA pick, fresh off 7.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and CUSA-leading 35 blocks in 2024-25. Her 21-point explosion vs. UTEP and five-treble game scream All-Conference. IG (@myabarnes21) vibes: Gritty dual-sport queen, #StayCocky forever. 

A Spanish import from Conil de la Frontera, Maria Sanchez Ponce returns for her senior season as one of the team's most experienced players. She appeared in 25 games with 17 starts as a junior, averaging 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 41.7% from the field. She tied her season-high of 20 points twice (at Western Kentucky and against FIU).

Sophomore guard Maša Buzic (5-11, Belgrade) transfers from Chattanooga, packing 13.9 PPG and 37% 3PT from Serbian leagues, plus FIBA U18 bronze-medal buzz. Her wing steals and transition pop? CUSA nightmare fuel. Eden Sample enters her third season with the Gamecocks after transferring from Old Dominion. In the 2024-25 season, she played in 28 games with nine starts, averaging 19.7 minutes per game.

Sample brings valuable experience and versatility to the backcourt, capable of handling the ball and creating opportunities for teammates. Her ability to play multiple positions and contribute in various ways makes her an important piece as Jacksonville State looks to rebuild its offensive identity in Year Three of Conference USA competition.

Fifth-year post Vitória Carvalho brings JUCO title grit and 25-board bursts. Pair her length with Barnes for rim-rattling twin towers and those rebounding margins just swung in Jax State’s favor. Freshman forward Mina Djurdjevic (6-1, Belgrade) will be needed to help out immediately on a relatively thin roster. However, she is one of the season's intriguing unknowns. Her development throughout the year will be a key subplot for the Gamecocks' backcourt depth.

5wins Crystal Ball Call: The question for Jacksonville State is one of chemistry. How quickly can the seasoned Barnes meld with this new global talent? If Pietri, the proven program-builder, can fuse this group into a cohesive unit, the Gamecocks have the pieces to be a surprise package in Conference USA. They may speak a few different languages, but the language of winning is universal. Watch for senior María Sánchez-Ponce (5-10, Spain) to swing a few games, for better or worse. Better gets Jacksonville State to a .500 CUSA record. Worse, they wind up with a handful of wins and another offseason full of what-ifs.