CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's basketball team will begin the 2024-25 season with two tough road contests. First, the Thunderbirds will travel north to take on the Utah Utes on Monday, Nov. 4 at 11:00 a.m. MT before heading to the East Coast to battle the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in both schools' annual WAC/CUSA matchup on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. MT.

Head Coach Tracy Mason Said:

"We are really looking forward to getting started. We have two really tough opponents on the road to start the season next week. Utah is extremely talented and will be a great test to see where we're at as a team. We have to be firing on all cylinders up in Salt Lake."

Season Preview

Southern Utah Thunderbirds

SUU will look to bounce back from an injury-riddled season in which the team went 8-22 and 6-14 in Western Athletic Conference play before losing in the first round of the WAC Tournament to UT Arlington.

Along with key returners such as Daylani Ballena, Samantha Johnston, Ashley Banks, and Ava Uhrich, seventh year head coach Tracy Mason and her staff will look to add production from many of their newcomers, including transfers Sydney Gandy and Lexi Bull, along with a privy of freshmen that include Sierra Chambers and Olivia Malafu.

Utah Utes

Now entering her tenth season at the helm for the Utes, Lynee Roberts looks to usher in a new era in the Big 12 while also building off of a 2023-24 season where the Utes went 11-7 in conference play before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Gonzaga.

Despite the loss of star player Alissa Pili to the WNBA, Utah brings back a number of key contributors. Ines Vieira returns for her senior season after leading the Utes with 33.1 points per game along with Kennady McQueen who led the team with 67 total triples last season. 

Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Rick Pietri enters his 11th season as the headman for the Gamecocks. Jacksonville State finished 2023-24 with a 12-17 mark on the year, going 7-9 in Conference USA play and losing in the first round of the CUSA postseason tournament to Louisiana Tech.

This season will mark a new look for JSU, with the teams top four scorers from last season gone due to graduation and transfer. Former ASUN Freshman of the Week Bre'Anna Rhodes will look to lead the squad coming off of a junior season where she averaged 20 points per game.

History

• The Thunderbirds own a 3-15 all-time record against the Utes, with Utah taking last years matchup in Cedar City 96-60.
• Saturday will mark the first ever matchup between Jacksonville State and Southern Utah.

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