Florida Atlantic Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team heads back out of the road this week for a pair of Sun Belt Conference games in Florida.  USA will open up the trip on Wednesday at Florida Atlantic, before traveling to Florida International on Saturday.

Tip-off versus the Owls is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at the FAU Arena.  Live stats and video can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. 

South Alabama enters the game versus the Owls looking to snap a two-game skid and pick up its first conference win of the season.  On Sunday, USA dropped to 8-6 on the season and 0-2 in the Sun Belt with a 67-59 loss to Middle Tennessee.  The Jags tried to rally back from a 21-point deficit in the second half, but came up short as MTSU held on to take the eight-point victory.

Over the course of the season, South Alabama has relied on its three-point shooting.  USA currently leads the SBC in three-point percentage (38.3) and three-pointers per game (8.2) which rank 12th and 10th in the NCAA, respectively.

The three-point attack by the Lady Jags has been led by the trio of senior forward Christian Shelter and junior guards Sarda Peterson and Lauren Walker.  Shelter has knocked down 44.7 percent of her attempts from the arc - third in the league, while Walker’s 48.9 percentage ranks second and Peterson’s 42.9 percentage is fourth in the Sun Belt.  

Shelter - who leads USA and ranks 13th in the league in scoring with 13.0 ppg - is averaging 2.4 treys per outing, which is currently tied with Western Kentucky’s Janae Howard for the conference’s top mark in treys per game.  Peterson (2.1) and Walker (1.7) also rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in that same category.

USA has been just as strong at the defensive end of the floor, as they rank first in the Sun Belt in both field goal percentage defense and three-point defense.  The Jags are allowing opponents to shoot just 35.9 percent from the field, while also holding them to just 21.3 percent from beyond the arc.  USA is also tied for the national lead in the latter category with Old Dominion.

Florida Atlantic comes into Wednesday night’s game with a 3-10 mark on the season.  Like the Lady Jags, the Owls are also in search of their first SBC win of the season, as they have fallen at both Louisiana-Monroe (83-63) and at Troy (64-57).  FAU has played just four of their 13 games at home this season and this will also be the Owls’ SBC home opener.

“Florida Atlantic, I know is going to be hungry for a win, as we are playing in their building,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “They have only played four home games this season.  They are a team with a lot of newcomers.  Gifted junior college players and freshmen who are obviously just trying to figure things out and come together.  They are a gifted team, so we are going to have to bring our best.  Right now, what we have to be concerned about is trying to win a game.” 

Lyrell Barfield leads the club offensively with 10.9 points per outing.  Barfield also ranks as one of the top defensive players in the league, as she is tied with Middle Tennessee’s Kortni Davis for second in steals with 2.4 per game.

Junior guard Breanna Turner ranks second on the club in scoring with 9.9 ppg, but in FAU’s two conference games, she has elevated her play, leading the team with 14.5 ppg in those two outings.

There will also be a familiar face on the Owl sideline.  Junior forward Vontrice Dennis, who played her freshman season at USA, transferred to FAU this past summer from Northwest Florida State University.  Her 7.9 rebounds per game lead the team and rank sixth in the Sun Belt.

Like the Jags, Florida Atlantic has been tough defending the three-point stripe.  The Owls are allowing opponents to shoot just 25.7 percent from the arc, which ranks fourth in the SBC and 19th nationally.

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 Florida Atlantic will mark the 17th meeting between the two programs in the all-time series.  South Alabama holds a 6-4 advantage in the series and are 5-3 under Pietri versus the Owls.  Last season, the two clubs split the two meetings with each winning on the others’ home court.  The meeting between Pietri and Florida Atlantic head coach Chancellor Dugan will be the ninth between the two coaches.  Pietri holds 5-3 advantage in those meetings.  All eight of the previous meetings have come at both coaches’ present schools.