MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama will close out the regular season portion of its schedule this week when the Jags welcome Sun Belt foe Denver to the Mitchell Center.  Tip-off versus the Pioneers is set for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.

Live stats and the web cast of the game versus DU can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.  The web cast is available on Jaguar Nation and can be subscribed to for either a monthly fee of $7.95 or for an annual fee of $69.95.

The contest will be the final home game for a trio of Jaguars - Shakira Nettles (Mobile, Ala.), Shaniece Brunner (Thomasville, Ga.) and Morriah Smith (Chicago, Ill.).  USA will honor the three prior to tip-off.  Nettles ranks 14th on South Alabama's all-time scoring list with 1,189 points and is second on the career three-pointers list with 141. Brunner ranks fifth on USA's career blocks list with 95 and has scored 353 points and recorded 440 rebounds during her career.  Smith - a two-year member of the team - has played in 60 games as a Jag, while starting 38 and has scored 282 points, dished out 126 assists and pulled down 208 rebounds.

The game will also be this year's WBCA "Pink Zone" game for the Jags.  Fans are asked to wear pink as part of USA's "Pink Out" and those who wear pink to the game will be admitted free.  Jaguar promotions will also be handing out pink ribbons and selling Pink South Alabama T-shirts.  USA will also honor all cancer patients and survivors in attendance.

South Alabama (14-14, 9-8 SBC) comes into action this week looking to secure seeding in the conference tournament.  With a win, the Jags would put themselves in position to climb as high as the fourth seed in next month's conference tournament and finish with 10 Sun Belt wins for the third consecutive season.

"The most important thing for us to do right now is to put all of our efforts into this game and opponent," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri.  "A win would allow us to finish with a winning record within the conference, and secure an overall record that doesn't reflect a losing season.  Those are the two most important things for us as we head into this game.  Denver is a very formidable opponent."

The Jags currently sit in the seventh seed and if the conference tournament were to begin today, would open up play against North Texas.  Denver sets in the fifth seed.

On Sunday, USA dropped its eighth game in its last 10, falling 100-78 at Middle Tennessee.  MTSU's Alysha Clark - playing in her final home game - had her best performance of the season finishing with a season-high 47 points and 13 rebounds. 

Despite the loss, the Jaguar women shot the ball well, finishing the game at 48.3 percent - including 9-of-18 from the three-point line.  Over the last three games, the three-point shot has returned for South Alabama. 

After not recording more than six treys in the previous five outings, USA has had no fewer than nine treys in each of those games and shot 45.1 percent (32-of-71) from the arc. 

Junior forward Christian Shelter and Nettles have been the two main offensive leaders for the Jags this season.  Shelter leads the club with 11.5 ppg, while Nettles is close behind her with 11.1 ppg.  Both Shelter and Nettles have each recorded double figures in each of the last four games for USA. 

The Jags continue to be one of the top free throw shooting teams in the league - ranking second and hitting 72 percent of its attempts.  Siedah Banks leads the SBC at 83.8 percent. 

Like South Alabama, the Pioneers (15-12, 10-6) got off to a hot start at the outset of the conference season that saw them win eight of their first nine.  Since then though, Denver has struggled recently, dropping six of its last eight. 

DU is 5-3 in league road games this season - including picking up a 55-49 win at New Orleans on Saturday.  The Pioneers trailed by as much as nine in the first half to the Privateers.  With UNO holding a three-point advantage at the intermission, Denver took the lead and is ranked second nationally in field goal shooting and is hitting 48.3 percent of its shots.  DU is also shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc and 77.9 percent at the free throw line - both tops in the Sun Belt. 

Individually, the Pioneers have been led by the trio of Kaetlyn Murdoch, Britteni Rice and Brianna Culberson.  Both Murdoch and Rice are averaging 15.0 points per outing - tied for fourth in the league - while Culberson ranks ninth in the conference with 14.0 ppg.  Murdoch also leads the SBC and sixth nationally with a .616 field goal percentage.  The sophomore has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor for the Pioneers, as her 3.0 blocks per game are first league and 10th in the NCAA. 

Freshman point guard Emiko Smith has been excellent at the point for Denver and her 5.0 assists per game also pace the conference.  Against New Orleans, Smith had six points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

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: Denver leads the all-time series, holding a 14-6 advantage. Head coach Rick Pietri is 6-12 against the Pioneers during his tenure.  The Pioneers are 5-4 in game played in Mobile, but the eight meetings during Pietri's tenure have been split.  DU captured a 71-68 victory in Denver earlier this season and has taken four of the last five in the series.  Wednesday night will not only be the regular season finale for the Jags, but it will also be the final home game for three seniors - Shakira Nettles, Shaniece Brunner and Morriah Smith.  The three Jags will be honored during a pregame ceremony.

-- USA --