Mobile Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – Coming off a 50-point victory over Spring Hill and a week break for finals, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will return to action Wednesday night when it host Mobile.

Tip-off versus the Lady Rams is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.  Live stats and video of the game can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. 

South Alabama comes into the midweek match up with a 5-4 record.  The Lady Jags also enter the game versus the Rams after holding Spring Hill to a school-record 22 points, the lowest point total for an opponent in 35 years.  Against the Badgers, USA limited Spring Hill to just 15.5 percent shooting, including a 0-of-19 performance at the three-point line.

As of games through Dec. 12, South Alabama not only leads the Sun Belt in three point shooting (38.8) and three-pointers per game (8.1), but also lead the conference in three-point defense, holding opponents to just 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc.  Nationally, USA is ninth in three-point percentage, 13th in treys and second in three-point defense.

Individually, four Lady Jags rank amongst the league-leaders in three-point shooting.  Senior forward Christian Shelter tops the conference in both three-point percentage and treys per game.  She has connected on 52.4 percent of her three-point attempts, which ranks third nationally. 

Lauren Walker (48.3 - second), Sarda Peterson (36.1 - ninth) and Brittney Rutledge (34.3 - 10th) also rank in the top 10 of the conference in long-range shooting.

Shelter’s 12.4 points per game leads the team offensively and ranks 13th in the Sun Belt.  Taylor Ammons, who moved into the starting lineup three games ago is coming off her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds versus Spring Hill.  Ammons ranks second on the club in scoring with 9.6 ppg and leads the team on the glass with 8.7 rpg - fourth in the SBC.  The junior forward is also connecting on 46.4 percent of her shots from the floor.

Mobile enters the contest versus the Lady Jags after improving to 7-3 on the season with a 79-30 victory over Concordia-Selma on Friday.  Concordia shot just 10 percent from the field and finished 0-of-15 from the three-point line, while Mobile hit 44 percent from the floor.  The Lady Rams also finished with a 75-46 edge on the glass.

“Mobile’s size on the interior is very comparable to Division I teams,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “They are long and tall.  They are also athletic in there as well.  Defensively, they have created difficulties for their opposition.  We are going to have to find a way to score and defensively, we will need to bring the same kind of energy that we did in our game last week.”

Senior forward Adrienne Mackay led the Rams with 18 points, while Alice Honnery added 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks.

Mackay leads the club in scoring with 14.3 points per game.  She is also shooting 55.8 percent from the field and pulling down 8.1 boards per game, which ranks second on the team.  Honnery’s 9.7 ppg ranks second on the club, but the 6-2 post player leads the team on the glass with 10.7 rpg and 47 blocks.

As a team, the Lady Rams are shooting 42.7 percent from the floor, while holding their opponents to just 29.1 percent shooting.  Mobile comes into the game averaging 70.6 points and 47.5 rebounds per outing.

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:  Wednesday’s game against Mobile will be the just the fifth in the all-time series between the two cross-town rivals.  South Alabama has won all four of the previous meetings in the series. The last time the two clubs squared off was back on Jan. 2, 1999 when the Lady Jags picked up an 88-71 victory over the Rams.  Pietri has never faced Mobile during his time at USA.  The meeting between Pietri and Mobile head coach Mike Berry will be the first between the two coaches.  The game will also mark the 43rd time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southern States Athletic Conference. South Alabama is 37-5 all-time versus SSAC members, while Pietri is 5-0 against the league.