Game 21 - vs. Troy Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will return home this weekend to the Mitchell Center to host in-state rival Troy in its third televised game of the season.

The meeting between the Jaguars and the Trojans will be the second within a two-week period.  USA won the first meeting 53-47 in Troy.

“Anytime you play a team for the second time, you know that there are going to be some things that are going to be adjusted,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “The key is to try and be able to guess on how the other team is going to be able to adjust.  That’s not always easy.  The most important thing that we will have to do is bring the right amount of energy regardless of any other aspect of playing.  We have to have the right amount of energy.  If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win.  Ultimately, we’ll have to execute on the offensive end of the floor and put the ball in the goal.  What we can control is the amount of energy we bring to the game and we will have to bring a substantial mount here on Sunday.”

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and the Trojans is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday and will be aired by the Sun Belt Network on Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) or via the web on ESPN3.com.  Live stats and USA’s web streaming for the contest can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.  Fans can also follow the action on twitter at www.twitter.com/#!/USAJaguarSports.

Sunday is Youth Basketball Day at South Alabama.  Children wearing any basketball jersey/uniform from their youth basketball organization or school will be admitted for FREE in the upper level general admission seating.  Additional tickets are $5.  Fans can also take advantage of $1 hot dogs from 2-5 p.m.
    
South Alabama (11-9, 4-4 SBC) enters Sunday’s televised contest versus Troy looking to snap a three-game losing streak.  On Wednesday, the Lady Jags fell 55-43 at UALR, marking their first loss against a West Division foe this season.

The first half was the difference for USA in the loss to the Trojans as the Jaguars recorded a season-low 15 points in the opening period of play and shot just 21.7 percent.  For the game, South Alabama shot just 34.5 percent and 26 percent from the arc.  

Redshirt junior guard Mansa El was the lone Lady Jag to end the night in double figures as she recorded 12 points against the Trojans.  She has now finished in double figures in 12 of her last 18 outings.  El leads the club offensively this season with 11.3 points per game.  She is shooting 31.1 percent from the arc and has knocked down 33 treys - second most on the club.

Senior guard Sarda Peterson ranks second on the team in scoring with 9.8 ppg and leads the club with 40 three-pointers.  

Fellow senior Taylor Ammons has been strong on the boards for the Lady Jags Despite pulling down just seven rebounds against UALR, Ammons is still averaging double digits on the glass in Sun Belt action with 10.5 rpg.  That tally leads all SBC players in league play and her 8.7 rebounds per game overall is second most in the league.  She has recorded nine rebounds or better in six of USA’s eight league games - finishing in double figures three times.

Troy (1-18, 0-8) comes into action this week still in search of its first Sun Belt victory this season and looking to snap a 10-game skid.  On Wednesday, the Trojans dropped an 82-52 decision at SBC East Division leader Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro.  Troy had taken the division leaders to overtime in the first meeting of the season.

Against the Blue Raiders, the Trojans committed 26 turnovers which led to 46 MTSU points.  Despite the miscues, Troy shot the ball well on the road, hitting 46.2 percent of its shots.

The main offensive weapon this season has been senior guard DeAngela Sword.  Sword leads the team scoring, assists, steals and minutes, while ranking second in rebounding.  The Montgomery, Ala., native is averaging 12.4 points per outing - 13th-best in the Sun Belt.  She also ranks in the top 10 in the league in free throw shooting, connecting on 72.6 percent of her attempts.  

She has netted double figures in five of her eight conference games this season, including a pair of 19-point performances.  Overall she has broken double-digits in 15 of Troy’s 19 games and led the Trojans in that category 12 times.

Fellow senior post player Tenia Manuel ranks second on the team in scoring (8.3 ppg) and leads the club on the glass (6.7).  Her rebounding tally is tied for 13th in the Sun Belt with Florida International’s Fanni Hutlassa.

Sarah McAppion has played well as of late for the Trojans, recording double figures in two of her last three games, including a team-high 15 points against Florida Atlantic.

As a team, Troy is shooting 35.6 percent from the field and just 28.5 percent from the arc.  In conference play, the Trojans have struggled to score, averaging just 47.6 ppg, while allowing 64.5 ppg to the opposition.

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 35th in the all-time series.  The all-time series between the Trojans and the Jags is tied 17-17, but South Alabama has taken 13 of the last 16 meetings.  Pietri is 12-2 against the Trojans during his time at USA. South Alabama is 10-6 all-time in meetings in Mobile and 6-0 under Pietri. The Lady Jags took the first meeting this season (53-47) in Troy.  The meeting between Pietri and Troy head coach Michael Murphy will be the 15th between the two coaches.  Pietri holds a 12-2 advantage in those meetings - all of which have come at both coach’s current schools.


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