Spring Hill Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – Before taking a week off for finals, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will host cross-town rival Spring Hill Wednesday evening.

Tip-off versus the Badgers 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 enters the game versus Spring Hill with a 4-4 record.  On Sunday, the Lady Jags hit a season-high 12 three-pointers and held on to pick up a 67-60 win over Ole Miss at the Mitchell Center.  The win versus the Rebels was USA’s first over an SEC foe since the 2005-06 season.

Senior forward Christian Shelter led the way early on for the Jags as the Mobile native hit seven of her first eight shots - including five treys - and recorded 19 points during the first half.  Shelter leads the team offensively with 12.8 ppg (14th in the SBC).  She not only ranks second in the league in three-point shooting, but eighth nationally.  Shelter comes into Wednesday night’s contest hitting 51.3 of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Shelter has not been the only long-range threat for the Lady Jags this season.  Lauren Walker (45.8 - fourth), Sarda Peterson (41.9 - seventh) and Brittney Rutledge (36.4 - 11th) also rank among the conference leaders in that category.  As a team, USA leads the SBC in both three-point shooting (3.87) and three-pointers per game (8.1).

Through eight games, junior forward Taylor Ammons has shown to be an inside threat for South Alabama.  The Vicksburg, Miss., native is averaging 9.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg, while also shooting 45.6 percent from the field.

Spring Hill comes in to the contest with a 4-5 mark after picking up a 55-52 victory over Brewton-Parker College on Saturday.  The Badgers led by as much as 10 in the second half, before allowing BPC to rally back and take a one-point lead with just under two minutes to go.  Jackie Higgenbotham drained a trey with under a minute to go to give SHC the lead for good.  With the win, the Badgers surpassed their win total of a season ago.

“This Spring Hill team that we are facing this year is infinitely better than the one we faced last year,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “They have already won more games this season than they did last year.  The most important thing for our team is that our players come into the game with the right outlook.  Our players will need to come just as ready Wednesday to compete against Spring Hill as they did against the four SEC opponents that we faced the last two weeks.  I am certain Spring Hill will be ready.”

Kimarie Bock leads the team offensively with 13.6 points per outing.  Bock is also shooting 51 percent from the field and her 5.4 rebounds per game ranks second on the team.

Also averaging double figures for Spring Hill are Bria Bohanon (11.3 ppg) and Higgenbotham (10.7 ppg).  Bohanon and Higgenbotham are the two main long-range threats for the Badgers.  Bohanon has connected on 34.1 percent of her attempts from outside, while Higgenbotham is close behind her at 33.3 percent and leads the team with 19 treys.

As a team, SHC shooting 36.2 percent from the field, while allowing its opponents to shoot 44.1 percent.  The game versus USA will be an exhibition for Spring Hill and not count towards the Badger’s record.

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 Spring Hill will be the 28th in the all-time series.  South Alabama holds a commanding lead, capturing 24 of the 27 previous meetings - including the last 11. Last season, the Lady Jags cruised to a 100-44 victory over the Badgers in their home opener.  Pietri is 3-0 all-time against the Badgers.  The game will mark the 42nd time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southern States Athletic Conference. South Alabama is 36-5 all-time versus SSAC members, while Pietri is 4-0 against the league.  The meeting between Pietri and Spring Hill head coach Ray Fron will be just the second between the two coaches during their collegiate careers.  Pietri holds a 1-0 record versus Fron.  Sophomore guard Jackie Higgenbotham is the younger sister of South Alabama senior linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham.