MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will welcome East Division foe Florida International to the Mitchell Center Wednesday evening for a Sun Belt Conference tilt. Tip-off between the Jags and the Golden Panthers is set for 7:05 p.m.
Live stats and the web cast of the contest versus USA and FIU can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. Fans can access the web cast by subscribing to Jaguar Nation for $7.95 per month or an annual fee of $69.95.
The Jaguars come into the contest versus the Golden Panthers with a 13-11 overall mark and an 8-5 record in the Sun Belt. After beginning league play with a 7-0 record, USA has struggle as of late and dropped five of its last six games - including a 100-52 loss to East Division leader Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
"FIU is a very well-coached team that is playing very well," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "We clearly have not been lately. This will be an extremely difficult challenge for us to reverse field against a team that is playing as well as they are right now. At some point our team has got to make a decision to bring the right effort, energy and focus to our game and to our opponent. We have this opportunity and we just have to see what we make of it."
Against the Blue Raiders, the Jaguar defense allowed MTSU to shoot 49 percent from the floor, including a Mitchell Center record 17 for 34 from the three-point line.
Over the last six games, USA has struggled at both ends of the floor - shooting just 33.2 percent from the field and 23 percent from the three-point line, while allowing its opponents to shoot 45.9 percent from the floor and 42 percent from the arc. Siedah Banks posted her fourth-straight double-figure game of the season against the Blue Raiders with her 10 point outing, while also leading the Jags on the glass with six rebounds. Morriah Smith had 13 points in the loss.
Banks has been the offensive leader for the Jags recently, averaging 11.2 points over the last six game, while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 36 percent from the arc. Banks has also attacked the basket and got to the foul line 18 times during that stretch.
Overall, Christian Shelter is one of three Jags averaging double digits with 11.0 ppg. Shakira Nettles (10.3 ppg) and Tashley Gaines (10.1 ppg) are the other two players for USA in double figures.
Gaines paces the team in both shooting at 45.4 percent and rebounding with 4.7 boards per game. Coming off the bench, the sophomore has posted double figures in 12 of her last 18 games.
The Golden Panthers enter the mid-week match up after picking up their third-straight win last weekend - a 72-55 victory over North Texas in Miami. With the win, FIU improved its record to 11-13 on the season, 6-7 in the SBC and sit a game-and-a-half behind USA and Florida Atlantic for third place in the East Division.
Against the Mean Green on Saturday, Elisa Carey led the way with her seventh double-double of the season - a career-high 26 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Carey was 8-of-10 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe in the win for the Golden Panthers. Over the last four games, the redshirt junior has averaged 22 points.
This season, Carey is averaging a near double-double with 13.3 points per outing - 11th in the SBC - and 9.6 rebounds per game - fourth in the SBC. She is also shooting 47.7 percent from the floor. In conference play, she has been even better with 15.1 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
Michelle Gonzalez ranks second on the club offensively with 12.3 ppg and preseason all-SBC performer Monika Bosilj is averaging 11 points and 5.4 boards.
Off the bench, senior post player Marquita Adley has battled back from a couple of leg injuries and ranks second on team in rebounding, pulling down nine boards per contest. FIU leads the Sun Belt and ranks 17th nationally in blocks per game, averaging 5.5. The Golden Panthers are also second in rebounding margin and fourth in three-point shooting, connecting on 33 percent of their attempts.
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: Florida International holds an 11-10 advantage in the all-time series, but USA has won six of the last seven meetings - including a 61-51 victory in Miami back on Dec. 31. FIU holds a 6-3 advantage in the previous nine meetings in the series in Mobile. Pietri is 8-6 against the Golden Panthers during his tenure at South Alabama and 3-4 against the Florida International in Mobile. The meeting between Pietri and Florida International head coach Cindy Russo have met 15 times throughout their careers. Pietri holds a 9-6 advantage in those meetings. All 15 have come at both coach's present schools. South Alabama has played 12 previous times on Feb. 10 and is 8-4 in those games. The last time the Jaguars faced a team on this date was back during the 2007-08 season - a 69-66 win over Troy in Mobile. USA is 2-1 on this date during Pietri's tenure. Two players on the Jaguar roster will be competing against a school from their home state this week when South Alabama host Florida International on Wednesday. Sarda Peterson (Fort Myers) and Veronica Cherizol (Miami) are both Florida natives. Director of Basketball Operations Katrina Martello is also from Jay, Fla.
