LAFAYETTE, La. ? Riding a three-game Sun Belt Conference win streak, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will begin a two-game road swing Wednesday night when the Jags travel to Louisiana-Lafayette.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Earl K. Long Gym.

“Louisiana-Lafayette is probably playing the best that they have played since I have been in the league,” said South Alabama women’s basketball head coach Rick Pietri.  “They have an incredibly balanced starting five that is led by a preseason first team all-conference player in Yolanda Jones.  Jeanenne Colbert is doing a good job of running the point for them as well.  For the past three straight games, we have played a pretty high level in the second half, but we need to put that together for a much longer period if we are going to hope to leave Lafayette with a win.”

SCOUTING THE LADY JAGS...

The Lady Jags (9-8, 2-4 SBC) come into the match up against the Ragin’ Cajuns after picking up their third straight Sun Belt Conference victory Saturday night at the Mitchell Center against UALR.  USA rallied back for the third straight game and fourth time this season from a halftime deficit to defeat the Lady Trojans 44-37.  With the win, South Alabama moved into a tie for third place in the East Division with Florida International.

South Alabama was led on the night by the senior duo of Valencia Boswell and Whitney Woodard.  In her best game of the season, Boswell recorded 16 points on eight-of-nine shooting, while Woodard was just as hot, going 7-of-8 from the field to finish with 17 points.  Boswell and Woodard scored all but four of the Jaguars points in the second half to complete the rally.

Woodard continues to pace the club with 15.2 ppg (ninth in the SBC) and 7.5 rpg (ninth in the SBC).  This past week, the Memphis, Tenn., native helped guide USA to a 2-0 SBC record and averaged 20.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg.  She was 17-of-24 (.708) from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc.  In conference action, Woodard has elevated her play, ranking seventh in league games with 16.7 ppg and seventh in rebounding with 7.6 rpg.  Monique Jones is third in the conference in league games with three-pointers made per game with 2.29.

SCOUTING LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE...

The Lady Cajuns enter the contest versus the Lady Jags riding a four-game win streak.  ULL has won six of its last seven, including a huge 77-64 win on the road against Western Kentucky at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday.  The Cajuns with an overall record of 14-5 and 6-2 in the league now sit just one game behind Arkansas State for first place in the West Division of the Sun Belt.

Against the Lady Toppers, Sun Belt Player of the Week Yolanda Jones led Louisiana-Lafayette with 16 points and 13 rebounds.  Onna Charles and Jeanenne Colbert also chipped in with double-digit tallies, with 15 and 14 points, respectively.  The victory also marked the first time that ULL had ever defeated Western Kentucky.  The Cajuns held the Toppers, the second highest scoring team in the Sun Belt, nine points below their season average.  The key point of the game came in the first period of play.  After WKU had taken a two-point lead, ULL erupted for a 16-0 run that put the Cajuns out front for good with a 39-25 lead.

Jones, the reigning SBC Newcomer of the Year, leads the Cajuns in both points and on the glass, averaging 16.8 ppg (sixth in SBC) and 9.8 rpg (second in SBC).  Over the last two games, she has averaged 23 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 block, while shooting 51.3 percent and playing in all 40 minutes of each game.  ULL also has two of the best three-point shooters in the league in Charles and Colbert.  Charles is ranked sixth in the conference, knocking down 41.7 percent of her shots from behind the arc, while Colbert ranks 12th at 37.5 percent.  The duo is also averaging double digits with 12.7 ppg and 10.7 ppg, respectively.

As a team, ULL ranks second in the conference in both scoring defense (56.0 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (.343), while leading the league in field goal percentage defense.  The Cajuns are allowing their opponents to shoot just .344 percent from the floor, which also ranks 11th nationally.

LAST TIME THEY MET (Feb. 9, 2007 - Lafayette, La.)...

The South Alabama women's basketball team used and 11-0 run over the final three minutes to pick up a key Sun Belt Conference West Division victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, 54-50 at Earl K. Long Gym.

With ULL holding a seven-point lead with three minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the game after an Ashley Blanche trey, South Alabama did not allow a point the rest of the way and outscored the Cajuns 11-0 down the stretch.  JoAnna Williams gave the Jags the lead for good (51-50)  when she drilled her second three-pointer of the night from the left corner with one minute, 12 seconds to play. Whitney Woodard led USA with 18 points, while Blanche added 13 for ULL.

In the earlier meeting of the season, Yolanda Jones’ game-high 31 points and 18 rebounds helped Louisiana-Lafayette pick up a 60-56 victory in the Mitchell Center.  The win for ULL was the second straight in Mobile.

UP NEXT FOR THE LADY JAGS...

The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will travel to Denver to take on the Lady Pioneers on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Central).

SERIES INFORMATION

LADY JAGS VS. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

Series: USA leads the series 23-10

Under Pietri: USA leads the series 10-2

Streak: South Alabama (1)

In Mobile: USA leads the series 12-4

Under Pietri in Mobile: USA leads the series 5-1

In Lafayette: USA leads the series 9-6

Under Pietri in Lafayette: USA leads the series 5-1

At a Neutral Site: USA leads the series 1-0

Under Pietri at Neutral Site: N/A

South Alabama Points:

High, 100 (1987-88); Low, 48 (1997-98)

Louisiana-Lafayette Points:

High, 92 (1987-88); Low, 37, (2002-03)

Overtime Games: (2)

Series Results Under Pietri

YEAR             RESULT                                             SITE

2000-01           South Alabama 57, ULL 51                 Lafayette, La.

                         South Alabama 66, ULL 46                Mobile

2001-02           South Alabama 63, ULL 46                 Mobile

                        South Alabama 58, ULL 47                 Lafayette, La.

2002-03           South Alabama 62, ULL 37                 Lafayette, La.

                        South Alabama 55, ULL 51                 Mobile

2003-04           South Alabama 57, ULL 54                 Lafayette, La.

                        South Alabama 52, ULL 49                 Mobile

2004-05           South Alabama 57, ULL 56                 Mobile

                        ULL 63, South Alabama 56 (OT)        Lafayette, La.

2005-06           ULL 60, South Alabama 56                 Mobile

                        South Alabama 54, ULL 50                 Lafayette, La.