Game 29 - vs. Arkansas State Game Notes - First Round (.pdf)

Tournament Central

2012 Sun Belt Championship Bracket (.pdf)

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team – the fourth seed from the East Division – will open up play at the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Championships this weekend when the Lady Jags face Arkansas State – the fifth seed from the West Division.

South Alabama and Arkansas State have squared off five other times in the league tournament, with ASU taking four of those meetings.  The last time the two clubs faced each other in post season play was back during the 2008 tournament when the Red Wolves picked up a 53-52 win in Mobile.

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and the Red Wolves is set for 2:45 p.m. on Saturday on the Convention Center Court at the Hot Springs Convention Center.  Live stats and web streaming for the contest can be accessed at both www.sunbeltsports.org and www.usajaguars.com.  The web streaming can be purchased for $9.95. Fans can also follow the action on twitter at www.twitter.com/#!/USAJaguarSports.

“As it has been said many times, in basketball there are three seasons – the preseason, the conference season and the post season,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  “The post season is a very short condensed season, so we’ve prepared for that as best we can.  Whatever happed with our meeting earlier this season with Arkansas State is irrelevant.  They are well coached and they have good players and they essentially will be playing at home and have a home crowd here, because of the reasonably close proximity to Jonesboro here in Hot Springs.  That means we’ll have some adversity to overcome in this game and win it.  Hopefully we’ll be able to handle the test.”

The winner of the first round matchup between USA and ASU will face West Division regular-season champion UALR on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Summit Arena in the quarterfinal round.

Despite dropping its final two games of the regular season, South Alabama (16-12, 9-7) still managed to end the year as winners of five of its last eight.  Like last season, the Lady Jags come into the SBC tournament as the fourth seed from the East Division.  

Of the Jaguars’ 12 losses, nine have come by nine points or less.  USA has been in nearly every Sun Belt game as five of USA’s seven conference losses have come by a combined 16 points.

Redshirt junior guard Mansa El - who leads the Lady Jags in scoring with 12.1 ppg (tied for 12th in the SBC) and has scored double figures in 18 of her last 26 outings - was selected third-team all-conference on Wednesday - the first such honor of her career.  El ranks third in the league in free-throw shooting (.796) and three-pointers per game (1.8).  She is knocking down 31.3 percent of her long-range attempts and had 17 points versus Florida International.

Senior guard Sarda Peterson (9.9 ppg) sits just one three-pointer away from tying former Lady Jags Stephanie Richardson’s career mark of 175.  Her 61 treys this season are sixth most in a single season at USA.  Peterson was selected as the league’s player of the week twice this season.  

Fellow senior forward Taylor Ammons continues to be a force on the glass as she ranks second in the SBC in rebounding and first in league games.  The Vicksburg, Miss., native has pulled down eight or more rebounds in 11 of her Sun Belt games this season - including six double-figure rebounding tallies.  Ammons leads the Jaguars in both field-goal percentage (40.4) and blocks (20).  She also leads the Sun Belt with 5.6 defensive rebounds per game.

The Lady Jags have been solid at the defensive end of the floor all season as they continue to lead the Sun Belt and rank 21st nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 53.1 ppg.  USA has held 11 of its last 12 opponents to 58 points or less.  South Alabama also ranks first in the conference in field-goal percentage defense.

Arkansas State (12-17, 6-10 SBC) - the fifth seed from the West Division - closed out the year by winning three of its final five games of the regular season, including a 56-53 win at Western Kentucky.  In its season finale, the Red Wolves dropped a 59-43 decision at UALR on Saturday.  Against the Trojans, ASU trailed by just five points at the break, but was held to 19 points in the second half and just 27.3 percent shooting.

ASU finished with a 3-11 record (3-9 on the road and 0-2 on a neutral court) away from home this season and 2-6 in league road games.

Sophomore Jane Morrill - a second-team all-SBC selection - leads the club and ranks fifth in the Sun Belt in scoring with 16.3 ppg.  She has scored double figures in 27 of ASU’s 29 games this season.  Morrill also ranks among the league leaders in free-throw shooting (first - 87.6), rebounding (19th - 5.6), field goal percentage (seventh - 47.6).  Her free-throw percentage is also 18th-best in the NCAA.

Redshirt senior NeNe Hurst-McLennan - a preseason first-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection - led ASU with 19 points against UALR.  Earlier this season she became the only player in ASU history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 200 steals, 100 three pointers and 50 blocks for her career.  Hurst-McLennan ranks second in scoring for the Red Wolves with 11.9 ppg.  She is also averaging 5.2 rebounds per outing.  Juniors Ashley Olvera (8.9 ppg) and Quinishia McDowell (7.7 ppg) are two more offensive threats for ASU.  Olvera leads Arkansas State in both assists (115) and steals (45).  

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 Arkansas State will mark the 37th meeting between the two programs in the all-time series.  Arkansas State holds a huge advantage in the series, leading the Lady Jags 28-8.  Under head coach Rick Pietri, South Alabama narrowed the gap, but still trail, 9-7. In the last 17 meetings between the two teams, 10 games have been decided by nine points or less. Earlier this season, South Alabama picked up an impressive 68-39 victory over the Red Wolves in Mobile.  The meeting between Pietri and Arkansas State head coach Bryan Boyer will be the 17th between the two coaches.  Boyer holds a 9-7 advantage in those meetings.

-- USA --