MOBILE, Ala. - Coming off an 0-2 performance on the road last week, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team will look to snap a two-game skid Wednesday evening when the Jags return home to host Florida Atlantic. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
"We had to really fight for the win earlier this season to get the win in Boca Raton," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It will be no different here on Wednesday. The makeup of their team is very similar to the makeup of our team. They are also coming off a big win. Florida Atlantic has the ability to put points on the board and we are going to have to play our best to give ourselves a chance to win."
Live stats and the web cast of the Jags versus FAU can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. Fan can subscribe to Jaguar Nation for a monthly fee of $7.95 or an annual fee subscription of $69.95.
South Alabama comes into the contest versus Florida Atlantic sitting a game out of first in the Sun Belt Conference East Division. USA is 12-8 on the season, 7-2 in league play and is looking to snap a two-game skid. On Saturday, the Jags battled back from a first half deficit to lead by as many as seven in the second period, but could not hold onto the lead, eventually falling 71-68 at Denver. Brittney Rutledge came off the bench to provide a spark for the offense, recording a team-high 16 points. Christian Shelter also had 15 for USA in the loss.
USA is led offensively by the trio of Shelter, Shakira Nettles and Tashley Gaines. Shelter leads the team and 18th in the Sun Belt with 11.6 points per outing, while Nettles (11.3 ppg) and Gaines (10.6 ppg) are also averaging double digits. Nettles is one of the top long range threats for the Jags as she has knocked down 36.4 percent of her shots from beyond the arc - eighth in the SBC. Gaines has been solid off the bench for USA this season, recording double figures in 10 of her last 14 games. The sophomore guard ranks among the league leaders in shooting, both from the field - 48.8 percent - seventh-best in the SBC - and at the free throw line - 77.1 - tied for seventh in the conference.
As a team, South Alabama second in the conference in free throw shooting and three-pointers made, while also ranking third in scoring defense, scoring margin, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage defense, assist/turnover ratio and turnover margin.
The Owls enter the mid-week Sun Belt match up versus the Jags after improving to 9-10 on the year and 5-4 in the conference with a 85-69 come-from-behind victory over Arkansas State on Saturday. FAU trailed the Red Wolves by seven at the break, but bounced back and shot 57.6 percent from the floor in the final period of play to outscore ASU 51-28 in the second half and pick up the victory. With the win, Florida Atlantic moved a half game out of third-place in the East Division.
The Owl rally was sparked by junior guard Lyrell Barfield, who recorded 20 of her game-high 23 points in the final stanza. She was 9-of-17 from the field - including five three-pointers. In conference play, Barfield has been solid for FAU, as she is averaging 14.7 ppg in those nine games.
Brittany Bowe leads the team in scoring with 12.5 points per outing - 12th in the Sun Belt, but the senior point guard also paces the Sun Belt with 4.6 assists per game.
Barfield is close behind her, averaging 11.6 ppg this season and is shooting 43.2 percent from the field. She is also shooting 32.2 percent from behind the arc. In conference action, Barfield has been even better from behind the line, connecting on nearly 40 percent of her attempts.
Senior guard Carla Stubbs has hit 9 of her 17 three-point attempts in league play for 52.9 percent - second best in the conference. As a team, Florida Atlantic is shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 30.5 from the arc.
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).
NOTES: South Alabama holds the advantage in the all-time series having won six of the nine meetings. South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri is 5-2 against the Owls during his tenure with the Jags and holds a 3-0 record against FAU in Mobile. Pietri and Florida Atlantic head coach Chancellor Dugan have met seven times throughout their careers. Pietri holds 5-2 advantage in those meetings. All seven have come at both coach's present schools. Pietri will recognize one familiar face Wednesday when the Jags and Owls square off. Lou DiFeo, an assistant under Pietri during the 2002-03 season, is in his second season at Florida Atlantic. During his one season at South Alabama, the Jags finished with a 19-10 record, won the Sun Belt Conference West Division title and advanced to the WNIT. Pietri is 2-1 against his former assistant.
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