Game 19 • South Alabama Jaguars (13-5, 6-1) at Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-9, 5-2)
January 24, 2018 • 5:00 p.m. (C.T.) • Cajundome • Lafayette, La.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Terry Fowler (Lane [Tenn.], 1986)
Record at USA: 52-84 (5th year)
Overall Record: 259-262 (18th year)

Louisiana
Garry Brodhead
(Louisiana, '80)
Record at Louisiana: 102-79 (6)
Overall Record: 102-79 (6)

LAST GAME.
South Alabama overcame a half-time deficit to defeat Appalachian State on Saturday, 54-52.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars finish the road trip in Monroe, La., on Saturday against ULM.

ON THE AIR
On the web:  http://www.ragincajuns.com/watch/?Live=859&type=Live
On the air: https://www.iheart.com/live/995-the-jag-mobile-7117/; 99.5 FM The Jag, pbp JT Crabtree
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=178905
 
RANKINGS (Games played through Jan. 18)
USA: #93 RPI
LOUISIANA: #120 RPI

THE SERIES
This will be the 52nd meeting between the programs and each has a 5-5 record in the last contests.
 
OPENING TIP
- The Jaguars rallied on Saturday Jan. 20 to defeat Appalachian State 54-52.
- Chyna Ellis became the all-time blocks leader in Sun Belt Conference history passing Kaetlyn Murdoch's mark of 279 on Jan. 18 against Coastal Carolina.
- Against Coastal Carolina, Ellis' 10 rejections were a career-high and is now the individual record for a women's basketball player at the Mitchell Center.
- The senior center also collected the first triple-double of her career with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks. It was the four in program history and is only the 15th in NCAA women's basketball this season.
- Since Ellis has been at South Alabama, the Jaguars have had 602 blocks. The team only had 697 blocks the previous nine seasons combined.
- The team's 14 blocks against CCU is a program-record besting the previous mark of 12.
- South Alabama is 9-2 at home.
- USA had four double-digit scorers for the third time season in the matchup against Troy.
- South Alabama is 60.6 percent from the field in the first-half against Georgia Southern, the best shooting percentage of any half this season.
- South Alabama grabbed 50 rebounds against Georgia Southern, the second time this season they have grabbed 50 or more rebounds in a game.
- The Jags' seven non-conference wins are the most since the 2012-13 season when they won seven.
- South Alabama received a vote in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches' Poll during week 9 of the poll, marking the first time since the 2008-09 season the Jags have received a vote in the poll.
- Perrymond recorded a career-high 9 assist the most by a Jag this season, when they faced Central Arkansas.
- South Alabama leads the SBC in seven statistical categories, assists (302), assists per game (16.8), blocks (132), blocks per game (7.3), defensive rebounds (29.6), shooting percentage (42.7 percent) and defensive field goal percentage holding opponents to 34.4 percent from the field, good for 7th in the nation.
- USA shot a season-best 51.1 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from beyond the arc in the contest against UCA.
- The Jags capped off November with an .833 winning percentage, their best winning percentage in November since the 2008-09 season.
- South Alabama has had at least two players score 10 or more point per game in every contest except for one.
- USA has had eight 20 or more point scoring efforts this season. Ellis has had five, including a career-high 24 points against Southern Mississippi.
- Ellis has led South Alabama in scoring in nine games.
- The senior center has eight double-doubles this season.
- Ellis has had double-digit points in 16 games, while recording double-digit rebounds in eight.
- Jones has scored in double-digits 13 times this season, while Genesis Perrymond has five and Erin Autio has done so four times.
- South Alabama has five scorers averaging seven or more points per contest, Ellis (15.1), Jones (13.9), Shaforia Kines (8.1), Antoinette Lewis (7.7), and Perrymond (7.1).
- USA has had three players record three blocks in a game this season, Ellis 10 times, Lewis twice and LaNeetra Guillory three times.
- USA is shooting 42.7 percent from the field including 34.9 percent from the three-point arc this season.
- Jones has made 39 three-pointers this season, the second-most by a freshman in program history.
- Ellis became the 19th women's basketball player in program history reach 1,000 points.
- Ellis has 289 blocks for her career and is in the top-10 for blocks for a season during all four-years of her career at South Alabama. No other player has done that in any category in program history.
- South Alabama is 4-2 in games decided by single digits.
- The Jags have won nine of their 13 games by double digits, including six by 20 or more points.
- South Alabama has been outrebounded seven times this season and have won three of those seven games.
- The Jags have trailed at halftime six-times this season and are 2-4 when trailing at the half.
- USA is 4-3 on the road and will not play a neutral site game until the SBC Tournament in New Orleans.
- USA is 9-0 when outrebounding its opponent.
- When scoring 60 or more points South Alabama is 11-2, including 7-0 when scoring 70 or more.
- Louisiana is 10-9 overall and 5-2 in conference.
- The Ragin' Cajuns won their last game at Texas State.
- Nekia Jones leads the team in scoring averaging 10.4 points per game.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
On the matchup against Louisiana: "They (Louisiana) bring it and are tough at the defensive end of the floor. They want to cause havic and get some easy baskets in transition. They have a good mixture of inside and outside players. They are well coached and play extremely hard. It will be a challenge."
 
On Simone Fields and Nekia Jones: "Simone is tough. We hope our post player's length will give her some problems. (Nekia) Jones is a matchup nightmare. She can play inside and outside. She's more than a scorer she's a playmaker. You have totry and contain them, but they have several players that can give you 20 a night. They are very balanced and can beat anybody on any night."
 
On Chyna Ellis' performance this season and breaking records: "Chyna has been consistent from the time we started. Her work ethic has been great. She has put in the time and it's paying off for her. Like they say all the time, you don't see the work in the dark, but they see it on gameday. People are seeing the results and fruits of her labor."
 
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).

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