Game 30 - vs. No. 4 Troy Sun Belt Conference Championships Game Notes (.pdf)2016 Sun Belt Championships Central Page (Women)2016 Sun Belt Chamionships Women's Bracket (.pdf)Live Stats vs. Troy LinkAudio Broadcast LinkESPN3 LinkTicket Information (Women)Student Bus Sign Up LinkFan GuideMOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team – seeded fifth – will open up postseason play Wednesday afternoon when the Jaguars take on in-state rival and fourth-seeded Troy in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Championships. Tip-off versus the Trojans is set for 2 p.m. at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, La.
"Our kids really put in the work this season to reach this goal that we set in the offseason," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said speaking of the conference tournament berth. "It's just been a joy to coach this team this season, and for me personally, I'm really glad to see them reach one of their goals and the excitement that they have going into the tournament.
"Before the Texas State game, Taylor Jenkins told our team to treat that game like it was a tournament game. After the game, we treated it like a tournament game and got ready to move onto the next one. Our team has a great opportunity we have against Troy, a team we won against twice, but since the last time we faced them, they have really elevated their play and they are playing well. It's going to be a tough match up for us."
The trip to the league tourney will mark the first for the Jags since the 2012-13 season.
Live stats, the Jaguars' audio broadcast and web streaming for the contest versus the Trojans can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Fans can also keep up with in-game updates by following action on the program's twitter account @SouthALWBB.
South Alabama (15-14, 11-9 SBC) comes into the conference tournament after closing out the regular season with a 70-56 win at Texas State over the weekend. USA had a solid close to the regular season, winning six of its last eight and nine of its last 13 over the course of the second half of the conference season.
The Jaguars were able to overcome 26 turnovers by shooting 53.3 percent from the floor, their second-highest field goal percentage this season. USA placed four players in double figures in the 14-point road win, led by Colby Davis' 15. Davis was 4-of-7 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers, while also knocking down five of her eight free-throw attempts.
Over the last 13 games, Davis has emerged as an offensive leader, and scored double figures in eight of her last 12 outings. Since a 63-57 win at UL Monroe, Davis has averaged 11.6 points and shooting 46.5 percent from the field, including 53.3 percent from beyond the three-point line. Davis has also dished out 48 assists (3.69 per game) during that stretch.
Davis has been outstanding this season from beyond the arc as she is 25-for-59 from beyond the three-point line for 42.4 percent, which would lead the SBC if she had enough attempts per game.
Marquita Daniels enters the postseason ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (17th - 11.4 ppg) and tied for second in steals (2.2). Defensively in the post, Chyna Ellis is first in the Sun Belt and ranks 22nd in the NCAA in blocks – fifth-most among sophomores nationally – with 2.72 per game. Her 79 blocks this season are 19th-most nationally and have already surpassed her tally (56) her freshman single-season blocks record. Ellis has recorded five or more blocks six times this season and in her 20 conference games, she averaged 3.05 bpg. She has had two or more blocks in 25 of her 29 games.
South Alabama currently leads the Sun Belt and is tied with Butler and Colgate for 12th in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 5.8 per game. The Jaguars are also 16th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.349), 51st in scoring defense (57.8) and 63rd in three-point field-goal defense (.289). USA leads the league in field-goal defense, three-point field-goal defense and on the defensive glass (27.2). The Jags have 169 blocks on the season, which is the most in a single season in program history. The 169 blocks also rank 12th-most in the NCAA.
Like South Alabama, Troy (17-12, 12-8 SBC) also enters the conference tourney on a hot streak. On Saturday, the Trojans won their fifth-straight and seventh in their last eight with an 80-70 win at UT Arlington.
Troy ranks as one of the top offensive and defensive teams not only in the Sun Belt, but nationally as well. The Trojans lead the league in scoring (82.7), rebounding offense (41.6), assists (14.8), steals (10.3), offensive rebounds (15.9) and three-pointers per game (7.7).
In the latest NCAA rankings, Troy is sixth in the nation in scoring, 16th in offensive rebounds, 21st in steals and 24th in three-point field goals per game. The Trojans are also fifth in turnovers forced (22.07), seventh in free throws made (475) and 16th in free throws attempted (643). TU is second in the Sun Belt at the foul line (73.9 percent).
How the Jaguars handle the Trojans' defensive pressure will be key on Wednesday.
"For us, the key is going to be to not turn the ball over against their pressure," Fowler said. "We also can't give Troy second-chance opportunities. I thought we gave them a lot of second-chance shot opportunities in the game at our place. The pace of the game is also going to be important. If the game is in the mid-60's, low-70's, I like our chances. If it gets up into the mid-70's, low-80's, that plays into Troy's style of play."
Ashley Beverly Kelley has led the league in scoring for most of the season, averaging a league-best 20.6 ppg. Over the Trojans' five-game win streak, the senior guard is averaging 223.8 ppg, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from the arc, while also dishing out 29 assists and averaging 6.4 rebounds per outing. Beverly Kelley also ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in free-throw percentage (first – .870), steals (tied for second – 2.2), assists (third – 4.0), three-point percentage (10th – .339), rebounding (12th – 5.4) and field-goal percentage (13th – .431).
Caitlyn Ramirez has also had a solid season for the Trojans. The 6-2 junior forward is knocking down 52.8 percent of her shot attempts, which is third in the league, while also ranking in a tie for eighth in the SBC in rebounding (6.9) and 13th in scoring (12.1).
ArJae' Saunders is the third Trojan averaging double figures with 12.9 ppg. Saunders is also fourth in the Sun Belt beyond the arc, connecting on 39.1 percent of her attempts. Saunders really emerged during conference play as she has scored double figures in 14 of her last 17 games, including six 20-point performances. Against league foes, Saunders averaged 14.1 ppg and shot 40.7 percent from the arc.
The Jags took both meetings in the series this season, capturing a 75-71 victory versus the Trojans on their home floor in late January and then ending the second meeting on an 8-0 run to rally back to defeat Troy 65-63 in Mobile three weeks ago.
In the last meeting, South Alabama trailed by six points with less than two minutes to go, but the Jags rattled off eight-unanswered points to rally back and capture a thrilling 65-63 victory in Mobile over Troy. Erin Autio tied the game up with a layup in the closing seconds. After a Trojan turnover, Davis knocked down a game-winning jumper with 1.6 remaining to complete the comeback.
Wednesday's meeting will also mark the third time that South Alabama and Troy have meet in the conference tournament. The Jaguars defeated the Trojans 52-39 in Hot Springs, Ark., during the 2009 tourney, while Troy captured a 62-49 win at the 2013 championships.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
