Game 17 - at Troy Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – After winning its third-straight league game, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will travel to take on in-state rival and Sun Belt East Division foe Troy on Saturday night.

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and the Trojans is set for 5:15 p.m. at Sartain Hall.  Live stats and web streaming for the contest can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.  

South Alabama enters the in-state battle with Troy after snapping a five-game road skid with a 72-68 win at Louisiana-Lafayette.  With the win, the Lady Jags won their third-straight game and improved to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the SBC - tying them with Florida Atlantic for second place in the East Division.

On Wednesday, preseason all-conference selection Sarda Peterson had her best outing of the season, recording a season-high 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-for-8 behind the arc.  She currently ranks third on the club in scoring with 9.6 points per game, but in conference play, she is leading the team with 12.8 ppg and hitting 45.8 percent of her shots from the three-point line.

Through the first 13 games, Peterson had hit just 23 of her 87 attempts from three-point range for 27.4 percent.  However, over USA’s last three games - all Lady Jag victories - Peterson is 10-of-18 (.556) and has averaged 14.7 ppg.  She is also a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.

Two other players that have elevated their game since the start of league play are fellow senior Taylor Ammons and junior Mary Nixon.  

After getting off to a great start in conference play with a career-high 16 boards at Middle Tennessee, Ammons has continued to be a beast underneath.  In her first four SBC games, she has grabbed 46 rebounds for an average of 11.5 per game - which ranks first in the league.   At ULL, Ammons posted her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Overall, she is averaging 8.4 rpg.  

Through the first 12 games of the season, Nixon had scored just 61 total points (5.5 ppg) and registered double figures just once (vs. Central Florida).  Through the first four SBC games though, Nixon has increased her and recorded 50 points for a 12.5 ppg average.  She has also finished in double figures in three of those outings, including 13 points in her last game against the Ragin’ Cajuns.  Of those 13 points, 11 came in the final seven minutes to help USA pick up the win.

Troy returns to action after taking a week off.  The Trojans come into the match up versus the Lady Jags with a 1-14 overall record and a 0-4 mark in the league.  Despite falling 64-38 at Western Kentucky in its last outing, Troy did manage to take SBC East Division leader Middle Tennessee to overtime, before falling by six to the Blue Raiders.  

“As we learned last year, anytime you go on the road in our league, it doesn’t matter what the opponent’s record is, so you have to be able to be focused on what your assignments are and execute them,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “Troy has shown that they are capable of playing with the best, having taken Middle Tennessee to overtime already this season.  (Troy) showed us last season what happens when you come in their building without the right focus.  Hopefully that is something we have learned from and hopefully we can bring the right mental framework to this game. “

Last season, USA entered with a 12-7 record and a 4-3 mark in the league, but the Lady Jags struggled, shooting just 25 percent and were defeated 66-41 by the Trojans who had just four total wins coming into the contest.

The Trojans have played just five games this season at home and are still searching for their first home-victory.  Troy has played much better at Sartain Hall as they have only been defeated by an average of 8.2 points per game in those five contests.

The main offensive weapon this season has been senior guard DeAngela Sword.  Sword leads the team scoring, assists and minutes, while ranking second in rebounding and steals.  Her 18.6 points per game average is 10th-best in the Sun Belt entering play this weekend.  She has netted double figures in three of her four conference games this season, including a pair of 19-point performances.

Fellow senior post player Tenia Manuel is second in the team in scoring with 9.4 ppg.  Over the last two games, she has also posted double digits with 11 points against Western Kentucky and 14 points versus Middle Tennessee.

Jasmine Pitts - a transfer from Navy who became eligible after the fall semester break - is the main deep threat for Troy, averaging 47.9 percent of her attempts from long range.  Ieva Nagy has also been solid from the three-point line, connecting on 41.9 percent of her 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: The meeting between South Alabama and Troy will be the 34th in the all-time series.  Troy holds a slim 17-16 advantage in the all-time series between the Trojans and the Jags, but South Alabama has taken 12 of the last 15 meetings.  Pietri is 11-2 against the Trojans during his time at USA. South Alabama is 4-12 all-time in meetings in Troy and 4-2 under Pietri. Last season, both clubs held their home court. The meeting between Pietri and Troy head coach Michael Murphy will be the 14th between the two coaches.  Pietri holds an 11-2 advantage in those meetings - all of which have come at both coach’s current schools.  Sarda Peterson enters the game needing just one three-pointer to move into second place by herself on USA’s career three-pointer list.
 
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