Game 27 - at Florida Atlantic Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – After moving into a tie for second-place in the Sun Belt East Division over the weekend, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team heads back out on the road for a pair of games to close out the regular season.  The Lady Jags will begin the road swing at Florida Atlantic in a battle to stay in second place.

“This is a big game for both programs,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “I feel certain that FAU will be ready to go coming home after a tough road week last week.  I know they will be charged and prepared.  Our team needs to be the same way.  We’ve got to be able to find a way to bring the kind of energy we’ve had for the last month at home and bring it with us on the road.  That’s really our biggest task.”

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and the Owls is set for 6 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday at FAU Arena.  Live stats and 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.

South Alabama comes into action this week tied with Florida Atlantic for second place in the Sun Belt’s East Division with a 16-10 overall record and a 9-5 mark in the league.  USA moved into the tie this past Saturday after picking up an impressive 70-33 victory over Western Kentucky in Mobile.

The “Senior Night” win was led by USA’s four seniors, who combined for 45 of the Lady Jags 70 points.  South Alabama also used a dominant defensive effort as it held the Lady Toppers to 26.5 percent shooting.  

Taylor Ammons led all scorers with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds.  The senior has now recorded eight or more rebounds in 10 of the Lady Jags’ 14 games - including five in double figures.  She ranks second in the Sun Belt in rebounding with 8.6 per outing, but that number is even better in conference play as she is pulling down 9.6 per game - tops in the SBC.

USA has been extremely tough on the defensive end of the floor.  After allowing just 33 points to WKU, the Jaguars lowered their points allowed average to 53.3 ppg - tops in the Sun Belt and 23rd in the NCAA.  South Alabama also leads the league in field-goal percentage defense.

Redshirt junior guard Mansa El continues to pace the club offensively with 12.2 points per game - 12th in the SBC.  El recorded a solid all around game versus the Toppers, recording 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals.  She has now recorded double figures in 17 of her last 24 games.

Sarda Peterson is close behind El with 10.4 points per outing.  She leads the team and ranks second in the league with 60 three-pointers.  Peterson is averaging 2.3 per game.  Coming in to the contest at FAU, the Ft. Myers, Fla., sits just two three-pointers away from tying Stephanie Richardson’s career mark of 175.

Junior guard Camille Reynolds’ 36.6 three-point shooting field-goal percentage leads the team and ranks second in the SBC.  Reynolds had 11 points off the bench versus WKU.

Florida Atlantic returns home this week after falling to 14-11 and 9-5 in the SBC with a pair of road losses last week.  The Owls dropped a 71-60 decision at Western Kentucky to begin the week and then fell to division leader Middle Tennessee 65-41 on Saturday.  

Against WKU, FAU led by 11 at the break, but had to hold off a rally and hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to defeat the Lady Toppers to pick up the two-point victory.  

Senior forward Chenise Miller led the Owls with 10 points against the Blue Raiders.  She has now recorded double figures in 11 of her 14 league games.  Miller is averaging a team-best 10.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game - tied with Tamara Torru for seventh in the conference.  She also leads FAU in blocks with 22.

Seniors Teri Stamps and April Goins are second on the club with 7.8 points per contest. Stamps leads the team with 31 steals, while Goins is pulling down 5.3 rebounds per contest.

Sophomore guard Latavia Dempsey is the top long-range threat on the team with 34 three-point field goals.  She is knocking down 34 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Along with Middle Tennessee FAU ranks third in the SBC in three-point shooting, hitting 31.5 percent of its 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 Florida Atlantic will mark the 14th meeting between the two programs in the all-time series.  South Alabama holds a 9-4 advantage in the series and is 8-3 under head coach Rick Pietri versus the Owls.  The two teams have met in Boca Raton on six occasions, with each team taking three of those meetings.  Earlier this season, the Jaguars picked up a 66-57 win over FAU in Mobile.  The meeting between Pietri and Florida Atlantic head coach Chancellor Dugan will be the 12th between the two coaches.  Pietri holds 8-3 advantage in those meetings.  All 11 of the previous meetings have come at both coaches’ present schools. USA leads the SBC in scoring defense as well as field-goal percentage defense, defensive rebounding percentage and is tied with Middle Tennessee for top honors in three-pointers per game. Senior guard Sarda Peterson (173) sits just two three-pointers shy of tying Stephanie Richardson’s program mark of 175 career three-pointers.

-- USA --