Game Nine - vs. Spring Hill Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – Coming off its longest road trip of the season, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will return home to host cross-town rival Spring Hill Wednesday night at the Mitchell Center as part of a double header with the men.  

“One of the nice things about playing at home is just that, you’re playing at home,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “We’ve been away from home for over two weeks.  Playing in our building will be a benefit.  That being said, we have an opponent in Spring Hill, which I think is vastly improved over last year.  I think coach McConico has done a very good job in her first year with that program.  She has been able to get those kids to play hard and buy into her system.  We’ve told our players that we will have to put forth a full effort to ensure us having a chance to win on Wednesday.”

Tip-off between the USA and SHC is set for 5:05 p.m.  Live stats and the web stream for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.  

South Alabama comes into the midweek contest versus cross-town rival Spring Hill with a 5-3 record and looking to snap a two-game losing skid. After beginning the year winning five of its first six games, USA has dropped its last two road games - at Mississippi State (63-47) and at Tennessee State (74-69).  

The contest versus TSU was the fourth-straight road game for South Alabama and the contest versus Spring Hill will mark USA’s first game in the Mitchell Center since in nearly two weeks when it faced Northwestern State back on Nov. 21.

In the two losses, USA allowed each of its opponents to go on a big first-half run, giving up a 19-0 run to the Bulldogs and a 13-0 run to the Tigers. The first 20 minutes of action have not been good for USA as the Jaguars are averaging just 23.9 points per game in the first half, while allowing 30.0 ppg to the opposition.  South Alabama is also shooting just 26.4 percent from the field and 21.9 percent from the arc, while its opponents are shooting 40.1 percent from the floor during that stretch.

Against TSU on Saturday, the Lady Jags did bounce back and record their most productive offensive showing after the intermission as they shot 51.7 percent from the field and recorded 40 points to nearly help USA rally.  

One player playing well as of late for South Alabama is red shirt junior guard Mansa El.  Over the last six games, El has recorded double figures in five of those, including a career-best 23 points in her last outing versus Tennessee State.  She now ranks second on the club and 20th in the SBC in scoring with 11.0 ppg.  During the six-game stretch, El has led USA offensively as she is averaging 12.3 points per game and has got to the free-throw line 30 times.  Over the last two games, El has converted 16 of her 20 attempts at the charity stripe.

Camille Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 12.5 ppg off the bench.  Reynolds is shooting 50 percent from both the field (sixth in the SBC) and the three-point line (third in the SBC)

As a team, South Alabama leads the conference in turnover margin, while ranking second in the league in scoring defense (57.1 ppg), three-pointers per game (6.1), three-point field goal defense (25.7) and offensive rebounds (17.4).

Spring Hill enters the contest with a 3-5 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the Southern State’s Athletic Conference.  Like the Jags, SHC is looking to snap a losing streak of its own as the Lady Badgers have dropped their last three games, including an 85-72 exhibition game at Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday.  SHC trailed by just four at the break.

Versus the Lions, Spring Hill placed four in double figures led by LeSheena Nation’s 18 points and April Bradford’s 17 points.  Nation was 4-of-5 from long range, while Bradford posted a game-high eight blocks.  

Bradford leads the team both in scoring and rebounding as the 6-2 junior post player is averaging a double-double with 11.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.  She has also knocked down 40.8 percent of her shot attempts this season.  

Nation has been just as effective at the offensive end of the floor.  The junior guard is right behind Bradford in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg.  She is also shooting 38.6 percent from the three-point line and leads the team with 22 treys.  The 10 other players on the Badger roster who have seen time on the floor this season have a combined 24 three-pointers between them.

SHC will be without its third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as Cassandra Mitchell (7.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this season.  

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 Spring Hill will be the 29th in the all-time series.  South Alabama holds a commanding lead, capturing 25 of the 28 previous meetings - including the last 12. Last season, the Lady Jags cruised to a 72-22 victory over the Badgers.  South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri is 4-0 all-time against the Badgers.  The meeting between Pietri and Sprign Hill head coach Karen McConico will be the first between the two coaches.  The game will mark the 43rd time South Alabama has faced an opponent currently in the Southern States Athletic Conference. South Alabama is 37-5 all-time versus SSAC members, while Pietri is 5-0 against the league.

-- USA --