Arkansas State Game Notes (.pdf)

JONESBORO, Ark. – Following a nine-day break for the holiday season, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will return to action Thursday evening when it travels to face Arkansas State in its Sun Belt Conference opener.  The contest will be the league opener for both clubs. 

“I thought we had a good non-conference season,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “We didn’t have what I would characterize as any bad losses and we had a win over an SEC opponent, which was a big positive for us.  Now as you head into conference play, the familiarity level raises expedientially.  It truly is a different type of season when you get into conference play, particularly when you are going up against coaches who have been in the league for a long time.  In terms of facing Arkansas State, Brian Boyer has been there one year longer as the head coach than I have been here at South Alabama.  We have coached against each other many times and since I have been here at South Alabama, the series has been very tight and the games are usually very tight.  (ASU) has had a solid non-conference season with some good wins and some losses against some ranked teams.  I expect the game to be a very fierce, competitive battle.” 

Tip-off versus the Red Wolves is set for 5:35 p.m. at the Convocation Center.  Live stats and video of the game can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. 

South Alabama comes into the Sun Belt opener looking to extend its current five-game win streak.  USA improved to 8-4 after picking up a 69-41 victory over Lipscomb back on Dec. 22 in Mobile in its final non-conference game of the regular season.

USA shook off a slow offensive start and broke open a two-point game at the intermission as it out scored the Lady Bisons 43-17 in the second half.  Lauren Walker sparked the Lady Jag offense with a career-high 21 points off the bench.  The Arkansas native, also was on three-pointer shy of tying a school record as she was 6-of-8 from the arc.

Throughout the season, South Alabama has been one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation.  As a team, the Lady Jags are connecting on 40.4 percent of their attempts from the three-point line and are averaging 8.8 treys per contest. Both tallies rank in the top 10 nationally.  Not only as USA shot the ball extremely well from the outside, but defended it.  Through 12 games, South Alabama is holding its opponents to just 21.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc, also ranking among the national leaders.

The three-point attack has been mainly led by three players.  Walker tops the club in that category, connecting on 53.8 percent of her attempts, while Christian Shelter (47.5) and Sarda Peterson (44.1) have also been strong from the arc. 

Shelter leads the team in scoring with 12.4 points per outing, while Peterson is also averaging double digits with 11.8 ppg.  Junior forward Taylor Ammons has been strong in the post as she enters the contest averaging 9.3 ppg and 8.7 rpg.  She is shooting 47.8 percent from the floor.

Arkansas State enters the match up versus the Lady Jags with a 7-6 mark on the season.  In their last game, the Red Wolves snapped a three-game skid with a 59-42 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 21.

Against SFA, Sherina Scott and Quinishia McDowell each recorded a double-double.  Scott finished the night with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while McDowell added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Shania Hurst just missed a double-double of her own, ending the night with 13 points and nine boards.

Hurst’s 11.6 points per game leads the club, while McDowell (10.4 ppg) and Scott are also averaging double-figures.  Scott also leads the team on the glass as she is pulling down 9.2 rebounds per outing. 

Arkansas State has done a good job defending the goal, as they are holding opponents to 56.7 ppg.  However, ASU has struggled on the offensive end, averaging just 56.5 ppg and shooting 33.2 percent from the field and 24.8 percent from the arc.  Like the Jags, ASU has done a solid job defending the outside, limiting opponents to just 24.1 percent shooting.

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:  Thursday’s game against Arkansas State will mark the 35th meeting between the two programs in the all-time series.  Arkansas State holds a huge advantage in the series, leading the Lady Jags 27-7.  Under Pietri, South Alabama narrowed the gap, but still trail, 8-6. Last season, USA captured a thrilling one-point victory over the Red Wolves with a 68-67 win in Mobile.  The last three meetings have each been decided by one point.  Excluding a 28-point victory by ASU during the 2004-05 season, the point differential in the series between the two clubs in the other 13 meetings is 27 points.  ASU wins decided by an average of 8.0 ppg, while USA’s last six wins in the series have been decided by 4.8 ppg.  The meeting between Pietri and Arkansas State head coach Bryan Boyer will be the 15th between the two coaches.  Boyer holds a slim 8-6 advantage in those meetings. USA list two players from Arkansas on its 2010-11 roster – senior guard Siedah Banks (Little Rock) and Lauren Walker (Cabot).