Game 4 - at Southern Game Notes (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. – Off to its best start since 2008-09, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will begin a five-game road swing Tuesday evening when the Lady Jags travel to take on Southern. Tip-off versus the Jaguars is set for 6 p.m. at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
“We’re about to be gone for literally two weeks. Clearly winning on the road is always a challenge, particularly in college basketball, so we’ve got to find a way to meet that challenge,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. “Coach (Sandy) Pugh has always done a good job at Southern. They are one of the top-tier teams in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) and have competed in the postseason frequently, whether it be in the NCAA tournament or the WNIT. She has a very talented team this season with some length and athleticism. We always have our hands full when we go over there to play them, so we’ll just have to bring the best we have and see what happens.”
Following the game against Southern, USA will continue its two-week road trip with a pair of games at the Radisson Hotel Chatworth Thanksgiving Basketball Classic hosted by Cal State Northridge (Nov. 23-24) and then open Sun Belt Conference action at Florida Atlantic (Nov. 28) and at Florida International (Dec. 1).
Live stats and audio of the contest of the Lady Jags versus the Jaguars can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama comes into the game versus Southern after remaining perfect with a 69-67 victory over Southern Miss on Friday. The 3-0 start to the season is just the fifth time that the program has been perfect after the first three games.
The Lady Jags were able to take the two-point victory when Jerontay Clemons’ running jumper in the lane bounced off the rim as time expired.
Nixon led USA with 20 points - her second 20-point outing this season - and was 7-for-14 from the field. The senior also pulled down seven rebounds and had a career-best four steals. She leads the club and ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in scoring with 19.3 points per outing. Nixon is also knocking down 52.5 percent of her shots from the floor and her five treys pace the team.
True freshman Brianna Wright has also been solid in the early going for South Alabama as her 8.7 ppg are second-best on the team. She also ranks second in the Sun Belt in shooting, connecting on 68.8 percent of her shots. Wright also ranks among the league leaders in blocks (sixth) and rebounding (eighth). The Jaguar post player had a season-high 12 points and six rebounds against the Golden Eagles.
Wright is one of four Lady Jags ranked among the league leaders on the glass - Ronneka Robertson (T-13th), Veronica Cherizol and Nixon are tied for 19th.
As a team, the Lady Jags rank first in the Sun Belt in both rebounding margin (+8.7) and scoring defense (54.3 ppg), while also ranking second in the league in three-point field-goal defense (.194), field-goal percentage defense (.362) and scoring margin (+16.0).
Southern (0-2) enters the midweek game after dropping a 65-46 decision to Tulane in Baton Rouge on Friday. The Green Wave forced 20 turnovers and held the Jaguars to just 31.9 percent shooting in the win.
The Jaguars have already faced one team from the Sun Belt this season, falling 71-69 to Louisiana-Lafayette in their season-opener.
Kendra Coleman one of two players for SU averaging double figures, coming with 13.5 ppg off the bench. The junior guard had 15 points against Tulane. Threw two games, she is shooting 62.5 percent from the field.
Adrian Sanders is also averaging double digits with 11.0 ppg. Along with her scoring, Sanders has been the floor general for SU, leading the club with 5.0 assists per game.
As a team, Southern is shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, while allowing its opponents to shoot 42.5 percent. The Jaguars have been good at the foul line as they are knocking down 71.9 percent of their attempts. SU has had trouble holding onto the ball as the Jags are averaging 20.0 turnovers per contest.
Sandy Pugh is in her 13th season with the program and returns four starters from last year’s 13-13 squad. The Jaguars did finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference a season ago after ending with a 12-6 league record.
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 Southern will be the 17th in the all-time series between the two clubs. USA holds a 13-3 advantage in the all-time series and 4-3 in games played in Baton Rouge. Last season, USA picked up a 57-44 victory over Southern in Mobile. USA is 10-2 against Southern under head coach Rick Pietri. The meeting between Pietri and Southern head coach Sandy Pugh will be the 13th between the two coaches. Pietri holds a 10-2 advantage in those previous 12 meetings. The meeting versus Southern on Tuesday night will also mark the 75th time USA has faced a current SWAC member. South Alabama is 58-16 all-time versus the league, while Pietri is 17-4 against the league. When South Alabama and Southern square off, the game will have a little more meaning for one Lady Jag as sophomore forward Ronneka Robertson (Kentwood) is the lone player on the roster hailing from Louisiana. Pietri (New Orleans) and assistant coach Eric Wise (New Rose) are also natives of the state. Southern doesn’t list any players from Alabama. The Lady Jags have played five times on Nov. 20. In those contests, USA holds a 2-3 record. The last time USA played on this date was during the 2008-09 season where the Jaguars defeated Southern Miss, 66-64 in Mobile. USA is 2-1 on this date under Pietri.
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