MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will return home Saturday afternoon when the Jags host Sun Belt Conference East Division leader Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Center and will be the first of three-straight home games for the Jaguar women.
Live stats and the web cast of the game versus Blue Raiders can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. Fans can subscribe to Jaguar Nation for $7.95 a month or for an annual fee of $69.95 and catch all of South Alabama's home contest and selected road games.
USA (13-10, 8-4 SBC) comes into this weekend's game looking to regroup and get back to its winning ways. After beginning the conference schedule unblemished, the Jags have dropped four of their last five entering the game versus Middle Tennessee, including a 68-47 defeat at New Orleans on Wednesday.
South Alabama struggled to find the range versus the Lady Privateers, shooting just 25 percent from the field - its second-lowest output this season. Over the past five games, shooting has been the big issue for USA. During that time, the Jags are hitting just 33.4 percent of their shots and just 23.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite the offensive struggles, junior point guard Siedah Banks as stepped up her game during that stretch and recorded three-straight double-figure games, including tying her career-high with two 15-point outings. Over the last three games, Banks is averaging 14.7 ppg.
Overall, Christian Shelter continues to lead the team with 11.4 points per contest, while Shakira Nettles and Tashley Gaines are both in double figures with 10.5 ppg and 10.2 pp, respectively.
Gaines is shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and has recorded double digits in 12 of her last 17 games.
Banks and Gaines both rank in the top 5 of the Sun Belt in free throw shooting in the most recent rankings.
As a team, South Alabama is second in the league in scoring defense, surrendering just 60.9 ppg. USA also ranks second in free throw shooting in the SBC, hitting 73.4 percent of its attempts at the foul line.
The Blue Raiders (16-5, 11-1 SBC) enters conference action this weekend leading the East Division by two-and-a-half games over Western Kentucky.
"Right now, we have two programs going in different directions," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "Middle Tennessee is probably playing their best basketball of the year right now and we are on the other side of that spectrum. That will make for a very interesting game Saturday afternoon."
On Wednesday, Middle Tennessee picked up its seventh-straight win with an 84-51 win over Troy. Against the Trojans, MTSU forced 26 turnovers, converting them into 33 points.
Brandi Brown was one of four players to finish in double figures with a game high 19 points. On the season, Brown is seventh in the conference in scoring with 13.9 points per outing. She is also one of the top three-point shooters, as her 41.6 percentage ranks third in the Sun Belt and her 2.5 treys per game is second.
Anne Marie Lanning leads the team and is second in the conference from behind the arc, knocking down 42.2 percent of her attempts.
Senior guard Jackie Pickel leads the SBC in both three-pointers per game and steals. The Cleveland, Tenn., native is averaging 3.3 steals per game.
All-American candidate and reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year Alysha Clark has posted another solid campaign as a senior, averaging 24.4 ppg (second in the SBC), 10.9 rpg (first in the SBC) and shooting 60.4 percent (second in the SBC).
As a team, Middle Tennessee leads the league in scoring (76.2 ppg), scoring margin (+ 14.1), assists (15.9), steals (12.3) and three-pointers made (9.0). Twice this season, the Blue Raiders have hit 20 treys in a game - at Louisville on Dec. 9 and vs. North Texas on Jan. 30.
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: Middle Tennessee holds a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series between the Blue Raiders and the Jags, including taking the last 11 meetings. Pietri is 2-12 in the series versus the Blue Raiders and 1-5 in those meetings in Mobile. Last season, MTSU swept all three meetings, including holding off the Jags 77-71 in the semifinal round of the Sun Belt Tournament in Hot Springs, Ark.
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