Women’s Basketball 2020-21 Quick Facts GENERAL INFORMATION TEAM INFORMATION Location: ........................................................Jacksonville, Ala. 36265 2019-20 Overall Record: .............................................................. 14-16 Founded: ............................................................................................1883 OVC Record/Finish: ................................................................. 10-8/5th Enrollment: .......................................................................................9,021 Starters Returning/Lost ...................................................................3/2 Nickname: .............................................................................Gamecocks Letterwinners Returning/Lost........................................................8/4 Colors: ...............................................................................Red and White Newcomers .............................................................................................. 5 Arena (Capacity):.........................Pete Mathews Coliseum (3,500) Affiliation: ..................................................................... NCAA Division I RETURNERS Conference:........................................................................... Ohio Valley No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown President: ......................................................Dr. Don Killingsworth Jr. 0 Taylor Hawks G 5-6 Sr. Gainesville, Ga. Athletics Director: ................................................................. Greg Seitz 5 Nekiyah Thompson G 5-6 So. Atlanta, Ga. 11 Kiana Johnson G 5-9 Sr. Decatur, Ga. Athletic Department Phone: .....................................256-782-5368 22 Jayla Walker G 5-9 Sr. Huntsville, Ala. Ticket Office Phone: ..........................................256-782-TIXX (8499) 23 Jessie Day F 6-0 R-Sr. Niceville, Fla. ........................................................................................... 1-877-JSU-TIXX 24 Yamia Johnson G 5-11 Jr. Lexington, S.C. 32 Karleigh Sledge F 6-0 R-So. Tuscumbia, Ala. HISTORY 34 Winnie Kuimi F 6-3 So. Missouri City, Texas First Season: ................................................................................ 1975-76 *21 Kennedy Gavin F 5-11 R-Jr. Petal, Miss. All-Time Record ..................................................... 559-699 (45 years) *25 Regan Dargan G 5-10 R-So. Chapin, S.C. NCAA Record ......................................................... 482-608 (38 years) * Did Not Play in 2019-20 Div. I Record ............................................................ 290-433 (25 years) Conference Championships/Last ...........................2/1993 (Div. II) NEWCOMERS NCAA Tournament Appearances/Last: .................5/1993 (Div. II) No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown 1 Kyra Williams G 5-9 Jr. Jacksonville, Ala. BASKETBALL STAFF 2 Imari Martin G 5-5 Jr. Hazel Green, Ala. Head Coach: ..................................Rick Pietri (South Alabama, ’87) 3 Kaiya Burnett G 5-6 Jr. Trenton, N.J. Overall Record (Years): ........................................ 324-271 (20 Years) 4 Keiara Griffin F 6-0 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. Record at JSU (Years): ...........................................104-104 (8th Year) 13 *Shawnta Shaw G 5-2 Jr. Nashville, Tenn. Assistant Coaches: .............................Altherias Warmley (UAB, ‘90) *Div. I Transfer, Will Sit Out ....................................................................Eric Wise (UL Lafayette, ‘92) ..................................................................Eryc Pittman (Hampton, ’08) PRESEASON NOTES Coliseum Secretary: ..............................................................Dodie Hill - PIetri was named the 2013-14 OVC Coach of the Year lead- Phone .................................................................................256-782-5535 ing a 13-win turnaround in his first year at JSU going 14-18 after inheriting a club that went 1-27 the year before. SPORTS INFORMATION Assistant SID/WBB Contact: . Daniel Porter - Rick Pietri, after seven seasons has climbed to second on Office Phone: .............................256-782-5965 the school’s all-time wins list with 104 victories for the Red and Cell Phone: ...............................205-907-5367 White, just 18 behind Dana Austin who coached from 1993- Email: [email protected] 2003. Associate AD/Media Relations .............Josh Underwood Office Phone: .............................256-782-5915 - Senior Taylor Hawks has made 83 straight starts dating back Email: [email protected] to her freshman season, and is one track to reach 1,000 career Office Fax: ....................................256-782-5958 points as she enters the year with 852. Press Row Phone:.............................256-782-5528 Athletics Website: ............www.jsugamecocksports.com - JSU will have to replace inside presence Chloe Long, who Mailing Address:....................Pete Mathews Coliseum graduated last season ranked seventh all-time with 700 career ................................ 700 Pelham Road North rebounds. ...................................Jacksonville, AL 36265 2020-21 Jax State women’s Basketball Prospectus Numerical Roster 2020-21 schedule Still pending No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (Previous School) Date Opponent Time (CT 0 Taylor Hawks G 5-6 Sr. Gainesville, Ga. (Gainesville HS) 1 Kyra Williams G 5-9 Jr. Jacksonville, Ala. (Wallace State CC) 2 Imari Martin G 5-5 Jr. Hazel Green, Ala. (Wallace State CC) 3 Kaiya Burnett G 5-6 Jr. Trenton, N.J. (Pensacola State College) 4 Keiara Griffin F 6-0 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. (Ramsay HS) 5 Nekiyah Thompson G 5-6 So. Atlanta, Ga. (Douglas HS) 11 Kiana Johnson G 5-9 Sr. Decatur, Ga. (Lithia Springs HS) 13 Shawnta Shaw G 5-2 Jr. Nashville, Tenn. (Troy) 21 Kennedy Gavin F 5-9 R-Jr. Petal, Miss. (Southern Miss) 22 Jayla Walker G 5-9 Sr. Huntsville, Ala. (Sparkman HS) 23 Jessie Day F 6-0 R-Sr. Niceville, Fla. (Troy) 24 Yamia Johnson G 5-11 Jr. Lexington, S.C. (White Knoll HS) 25 Regan Dargan G 5-10 R-So. Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS) 32 Karleigh Sledge F 6-0 R-So. Tuscumbia, Ala. (Deshler HS) 34 Winnie Kuimi F 6-3 So. Missouri City, Texas (Bend Hightower HS) Head Coach: Rick Pietri (South Alabama, 1987) 8th season Assistant Coach: Altherias Warmley (UAB, 1990) 8th season Assistant Coach: Eric Wise (UL Lafayette, 1992) 8th season Assistant Coach: Eryc Pittman (Hampton, 2008) 6th season Alphabetical Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown/Previous School 3 Kaiya Burnett G 5-6 Jr. Trenton, N.J. (Pensacola State College) 25 Regan Dargan G 5-10 R-So. Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS) 23 Jessie Day F 6-0 R-Sr. Niceville, Fla. (Troy) 21 Kennedy Gavin F 5-9 R-Jr. Petal, Miss. (Southern Miss) 4 Keiara Griffin F 6-0 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. (Ramsay HS) 0 Taylor Hawks G 5-6 Sr. Gainesville, Ga. (Gainesville HS) 11 Kiana Johnson G 5-9 Sr. Decatur, Ga. (Lithia Springs HS) 24 Yamia Johnson G 5-11 Jr. Lexington, S.C. (White Knoll HS) 34 Winnie Kuimi F 6-3 So. Missouri City, Texas (Bend Hightower HS) 2 Imari Martin G 5-5 Jr. Hazel Green, Ala. (Wallace State CC) 13 Shawnta Shaw G 5-2 Jr. Nashville, Tenn. (Troy) 32 Karleigh Sledge F 6-0 R-So. Tuscumbia, Ala. (Deshler HS) 5 Nekiyah Thompson G 5-6 So. Atlanta, Ga. (Douglas HS) 22 Jayla Walker G 5-9 Sr. Huntsville, Ala. (Sparkman HS) 1 Kyra Williams G 5-9 Jr. Jacksonville, Ala. (Wallace State CC) 2020-21 Jax State women’s Basketball Prospectus Rick pietri Head Coach When Rick Pietri, a coach with a reputation for turning pro- grams around, came on-board as the new head women’s the pietri file basketball coach at Jacksonville State University in June of 2013, he began developing a new culture for the Gamecock women’s basketball program. Career record: 324 - 271 (20 seasons) record at Jacksonville state: 104-104 (8th Season) In his first five seasons at the helm, Pietri has compiled 75 victories to rank second all-time among JSU head coaches. His teams have set Division I school records for both overall PERSONAL and conference wins in a season, while reaching postseason Hometown: New Orleans, La. play in three of the five years. With nearly 300 career victories College: South Alabama, B.A. Communication (1987) at the Division I level, he ranks among the winningest colle- South Alabama, M.S. Education (1991) giate women’s coaches in state of Alabama history. Family: Wife, Suzanne; Sons Wesley and Jordan, Daughter- Upon his arrival, it didn’t take very long for Pietri to reverse in-Law, Emily the fortunes of JSU women’s basketball. After inheriting a team that had gone 1-27 the year before his arrival, Pietri posted 14 wins in his debut season in charge of the program. The turnaround was among the best in NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball that year. After opening with four Milestone Victories losses to start the 2013-14 OVC schedule, the Gamecocks No. Date Score put together a stretch that saw them win eight of their last 1 11/17/00 USA 79, Jacksonville State 53 12 games to earn one of the eight spots in the 2014 OVC 50 11/22/03 USA 61, St. Francis (N.Y.) 54 Women’s Basketball Tournament. Once in the field for the championship, JSU put together an improbable run in the 100 11/12/06 USA 56, Spring Hill 44 Nashville-based tournament. 150 2/11/09 USA 66, Florida International 52 200 2/4/12 USA 56, Western Kentucky 52 Jax State, the No. 6 seed in the field, topped SIU Edwardsville 220 3/2/13 USA 71, Troy 70 in the opening round to set up the third meeting of the year 221 11/20/13 JSU 78, Kennesaw State