Game Eight - Tennessee State Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will close out its current four-game road trip Saturday afternoon when the Lady Jags travel to take on Tennessee State at the Gentry Center.

“Tennessee State is a team that has proven it can score points,” South Alabama head coach Rick Peitri said. “They have offensive weapons, both inside and out, so we are going to have to find a way to deal with that.  From an offensive standpoint, we are going to have to find a way to finish plays, which is something that we have been struggling with, but if we can give the right kind of energy on both ends of the floor and the right kind of focus, we should have a chance to win the game, which is all you can ask for when we go on the road.”

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Tigers is set for 3 p.m.  Live stats and the web stream for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.  

South Alabama comes into the weekend match up versus TSU after dropping to 5-2 on the year with a 63-47 loss at Mississippi State on Wednesday night.

The Lady Jags are looking to bounce back from one of their worst offensive showings of the season.  USA shot a season-low 21.5 percent from the field versus the Bulldogs and the 47 points were the second fewest recorded by the Jaguars this season.  

South Alabama led by five early in the contest, but went cold for a five-minute stretch and gave up a 19-0 run to MSU during that same time.  USA was able to get as close as six in the second half, but could draw no closer.  

Mansa El and Sarda Peterson each posted season-highs in the loss to Mississippi State.  El was one-point shy of tying her career mark with 16 points, while Peterson chipped in with 13 points.  Peterson’s two treys versus MSU also moved her into a tie with former Lady Jag Sara Carter for fourth place on USA’s career three-pointer list.

El has been solid as of late as she has scored 10 or more points in four of USA’s last five games.  The red shirt junior is second on the team in scoring with 9.3 points per outing.

USA’s leading scorer Camille Reynolds was held to just two points by the Bulldog defense.  Despite the season-low output, Reynolds continues to lead the club with 12.7 points per game - 16th in the Sun Belt.  She ranks among the league leaders in several other categories - three-point field goal percentage (57.1 - second), field goal percentage (51.7 - fifth), free-throw percentage (86.4 - fifth) and three-pointers per game (1.1 - tied -13th).  

As a team, South Alabama leads the Sun Belt in turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in scoring defense, three-point field goal defense, rebounding offense and three-pointers per game.

Tennessee State (3-5) enters the game fresh off a three-game road swing following a pair of games against Fresno State and Cal State Fullerton at the Hoops for the Cure tournament hosted by SMU and a loss at Memphis (88-64) on Thursday night.  The Lady Tigers have now dropped three of their last four games coming into the weekend.  

Versus Memphis, TSU turned the ball over on four of its first five possessions of the game and game up a 9-0 run to the host Tigers as they were never really threat ended from there.  

Destiney Gaston came off the bench to lead Tennessee State with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Jasmin Shuler added 15.  Gaston started the first six games of the season, but has come off the bench in each of the last two contests.

Shuler has been the offensive leader for the Lady Tigers this season as she leads the club and ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring with 16.8 points per outing.  The 5-8 junior guard also leads the league in treys per game (3.3) and is 14th in three-point shooting, knocking down 36.6 percent of her attempts from outside the arc.  Her 3.3 three-pointers per game is 15th-best in the latest NCAA rankings.

Gaston - who ranks sits just outside of double figures in scoring with 9.8 ppg - has been very good shooting the ball this season.  Her 67.3 field goal percentage ranks second in the OVC.  Gaston also ranks second in the Ohio Valley in blocks (1.5).

As a team, TSU is fourth in the OVC in field goal percentage (.379) and second in blocks (3.5).

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Tennessee State will be just the second in the all-time series between the two clubs.  The Lady Jags hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series, defeating TSU, 71-62, in the second round of the Lady Tiger Invitational held in Memphis, Tenn., back during the 1989-90 season.  The game against Tennessee State will mark the 12th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Ohio Valley Conference. South Alabama is 7-4 all-time versus OVC members, while head coach Rick Pietri is 2-1 against the league.  The meeting between Pietri and Tennessee State head coach Tracee Wells will be the first between the two coaches.  

-- USA --