Southern Miss Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – After opening the 2010-11 season at Tulane, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team returns home Tuesday night for its home opener versus regional rival Southern Miss. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.  The game will mark the second in as many games for the Lady Jags versus an opponent from Conference USA. 

“Southern Miss is a super-athletic team,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “They have incredible team speed.  We are going to have to find a way to stop them in transition and try to limit their opportunities.  Conversely, we need to find different ways to score.  Offensively, I thought we showed some areas of improvement from our exhibition game to our opener at Tulane. Hopefully, we can continue to progress offensively as a team.”

Live stats and a web cast of the game versus the Golden Eagles can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama comes into its home opener on Tuesday night looking to bounce back from a 72-62 loss at Tulane in its season-opener Saturday.  Against the Green Wave, USA put forth a solid effort and led by as many as nine in the second stanza, but Tulane used a couple of different late runs, including a 9-0 spurt with under three minutes to play to pick up the victory. 

The Lady Jags were led offensively by Sarda Peterson’s 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and Christian Shelter’s 13 points.  One key stat in the loss was in the second-chance point category where the Green Wave held a 13-4 advantage, including an 11-2 margin in the second half.

Last season, Shelter led USA in scoring with 12.1 ppg.  The senior was also South Alabama’s top-shooter from long range as she knocked down a team-best 48 treys and hit 34.5 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Fellow senior point guard Siedah Banks also started her final collegiate season off strong as the Little Rock, Ark., native had seven assists and no turnovers against Tulane.  Last season, Banks ranked 26th nationally in assist/turnover ratio.

Southern Miss enters the midweek regional contest after opening up the season with a 70-64 home victory against McNeese State on Friday. 

Offensively, USM was led by freshman point guard Jamierra Faulkner’s 20 points. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native was 7-of-8 from the floor and also dished out six assists and recorded three steals.  For her efforts, Faulkner was named Conference USA’s Freshman of the Week on Monday.  Fellow newcomer Rachel Vigers, a transfer from Co-Lin Community College also had a solid outing in her first real action of the season.  Vigers came off the bench to record 19 points and seven rebounds against the Cowgirls.

Both clubs had a hard time maintaining control of the ball as the two clubs combined for an astounding 72 turnovers, 40 of which were committed by Southern Miss.

The Golden Eagles return just five letterwinners and three starters from last year’s squad and will have to replace the offensive production of its two top scorers from 2009-10 - Pauline Love (18.3 ppg) and Candace Rucker (11.5 ppg).  Love also led USM on the glass with 12.8 boards per game.

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:  Tuesday night’s game against Southern Miss will be the 24th in the all-time series.  USM leads the all-time series 14-9, while head coach Rick Pietri is 6-1 against the Golden Eagles during his career.  Last season the two clubs opened the season against each other in Hattiesburg with USM snapping a six-game win-streak in the series with a 72-53 win.  South Alabama holds a slim 6-5 advantage in the series in games played in Mobile.  Pietri and Southern Miss head coach Joye Lee-McNelis have met six times during their coaching careers with Pietri holding a 5-1 advantage in those contests.  Lee-McNelis’ only win versus Pietri came in last season’s opener in Hattiesburg.  The game versus Southern Miss will also mark the 94th time USA has faced an opponent currently from Conference USA.  In those previous meetings, the Jags are 43-50, while Pietri holds an 11-6 all-time versus the league. In 36 seasons, the South Alabama women’s basketball program has won 28 of its previous 36 home-openers.  Last season, USA defeated cross-town rival Spring Hill, 100-44 in its home opener.  Pietri holds a 9-1 record in his 10 home openers.