WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The South Alabama women’s basketball team will open play at the 2008 GW Thanksgiving Classic Friday afternoon when the Lady Jags take on tournament host George Washington. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. (CT) at the Charles E. Smith Center.
The tournament field at this weekend’s GW Thanksgiving Classic certainly will be some of the toughest competition that the Lady Jags will face all season. All three of South Alabama’s possible opponents - George Washington, Hartford and Liberty - each earned berths in last year’s NCAA Tournament and ended the season with at least 27 wins. This week both Hartford (AP - ESPN/USA Today) and Liberty (ESPN/USA Today) received votes in the national polls.
“People who don’t follow women’s basketball on a regular basis might not understand how good of a field we are in this weekend,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. “All three teams won at least 27 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. This is a test on a national scale for us to see where we are right now. We have shown regionally that we’re pretty good. Now, it’s up to us to show on a national scale that we have a quality team.”
Live stats for both of South Alabama’s games may be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. Fans can also purchase live web streaming of all four tournament games by subscribing to GW All-Access package for $9.95. To purchase the monthly subscription, fans need to just follow this link; http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=gewa&media=93458.
The Lady Jags enter the game versus George Washington after remaining perfect on the year with a 96-82 victory over Mercer Monday night at the Mitchell Center.
Against the Bears, South Alabama was on fire, knocking down 35 of its 59 shots from the field for 59.3 percent shooting and was even better in the second half, hitting 70 percent of its attempts. USA also set a new Mitchell Center record with 14 three-pointers and the 96 points was a season-high.
Jessica Starling was one of six Lady Jags to end the night in double figures with 19 points. Fellow senior Shaniece Brunner recorded a career-high 18 points of her own, while Karina Sproal chipped in with 13, followed by Morriah Smith’s 11 and Shakira Nettles and Cylenthia Kennon’s 10 points each.
Starling leads the club with 18.3 ppg - 4th in the SBC, while Nettles (15.0 ppg - 7th SBC)) and Sproal (10.0 ppg) are also averaging double figures for the Jags. Brunner has been a force down low as the senior is averaging 9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 1.5 bpg.
Entering play this week, South Alabama led the Sun Belt in scoring offense, scoring margin, assists and blocked shots, while also ranking in the top three of the conference in three-point field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, assists/turnover ratio, defensive rebounds and three-point field goals made.
The Colonials enter the game against the Jags with a 2-2 record so far this season. After opening the year with a pair of wins, George Washington has fallen at Sun Belt member Western Kentucky (72-64) and at Kentucky (67-48).
Senior forward Antelia Parrish leads the club offensively with 13.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Jessica Adair is close behind Parrish in scoring with 10.8 ppg of her own. Adair and Ivy Abiona are also pulling down 6.3 boards per contest. Adair was also named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2008-09 Women's Wooden Award All-American Team prior to the start of the season.
Last year, GW ended the season ranked 14th in the ESPN/USA TODAY and advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen after capturing the Atlantic 10 regular season title.
Friday’s opening round game against George Washington will be just the third in the all-time series. The previous two meetings have come on a neutral court. George Washington defeated USA 71-63 at the Crawfish Classic in Baton Rouge, La., during the 1989-90 season and then captured a 70-59 win over the Colonials at the South Florida Holiday Classic in Tampa, Fla. during the 1990-91 season. Head coach Rick Pietri has never faced George Washington during his coaching career
The Hawks enter the tournament with a 3-2 record so far this season. Hartford opened up the the season with three-straight wins, including a 53-51 upset win over then fifth-ranked Duke at the buzzer, but have since dropped consecutive games at DePaul and at No. 20 Ohio State on Tuesday.
Hartford has been led offensively this year by the duo of Lisa Etienne and Diana Delva. Etienne, a 5-6 senior guard paces the club 13.0 ppg, while junior post player Diana Delva is close behind her with 11.6 ppg. Delva (8.4 rpg) and Erica Beverly (8.2 rpg) have been dominant on the glass thus far this year.
The Hawks are coached by former University of Connecticut All-American Jennifer Rizzotti. During her time at the helm, Rizzotti has led Hartford to 175 victories, three America East regular season titles and four NCAA Tournament Appearances.
The Flames enter the tournament with a 1-2 record so far this season. All three of Liberty’s games thus far have been part of the Preseason WNIT. Liberty’s two losses have come to VCU (59-57) and at Western Carolina (73-53). The Flames lone win came in a thrilling buzzer beater when Megan Frazee scored at the horn to give them a 45-44 victory over UC-Riverside.
Three-time Big South Player of the Year selection Megan Frazee leads the team in both scoring and rebounding as the senior is averaging 23.0 ppo and 10.0 rpg coming into action this weekend. Her sister and fellow preseason All-BSC selection Morriah Smith is second on the club with 8.7 boards per game.
Liberty returns three starters, including Megan and Moriah Frazee and eight total letterwinners from its 2007-08 team, which went 28-4 overall and captured the Big South regular-season - 11th in the last 12 years - and tournament titles. Liberty also earned a berth in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Liberty head coach Carey Green also ranks 10th in winning percentage among active head coaches.
In the program’s 34-year history, South Alabama has never faced either Hartford or Liberty on the basketball court. Head coach Rick Pietri has also never faced either the Hawks or the Flames in his nine years of coaching at the Division I level.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
-- USA --
