MOBILE, Ala. – First-year University of South Alabama women's basketball head coach Terry Fowler believes that the strength of the 2013-14 Jaguars will be the versatility of the guards.  With the limited numbers in the post, USA's guard play will be key in its success.

"We shoot the ball pretty well, so I feel that our guard play is going to be our strength," Fowler said.  "We can rotate four or five kids out on the perimeter, so that position is going to play a vital role for us.  We're going to have to stay out of foul trouble, but we think all the (guard) spots are interchangeable.  We have multiple players for any of the spots on the perimeter."

South Alabama will be looking for some scoring from the outside as the Jags will have to replace graduated seniors Mary Nixon – a third-team all-SBC selection – and Mansa El.  Nixon and El combined for 20.7 of USA's 57.2 points per game last season.  

One player who has shown signs of stepping into one of those voided spots through the preseason camp is senior guard Meghan Dunn.  

"Meghan Dunn has been great, she really has," Fowler said.  "She's shown the ability to score the basketball in various ways.  Not just shooting from the outside, but having the ability to get to the basket.  She's also getting to the point now where she's able to find her teammates and create open shots for them as well."

Last season, Dunn started 11 of the 30 games in which she played and averaged 6.9 ppg.  The Hoover, Ala., native also led the club from the arc with 45 three-pointers.  She was 11th in the conference in three-point percentage, knocking down 32.4 percent of her attempts and ended the season tied for sixth in treys per game (1.5) in her first season in a Jaguar uniform after earning JUCO All-American honors at Shelton State Community College.

One other player who may give the Jaguars a scoring threat might be true freshman Colby Davis.  While Davis is still making the transition to the collegiate game, the 5-9 guard has shown signs of the type player she could be for South Alabama and Fowler.  

"She's done some of the typical freshman things, but she's shown flashes of being able to really help us," Fowler stated.  "She's going to be a good player and we're really excited about her.  Her ability to put the ball on the floor has been a surprise to me.  I knew she was a good shooter, but she's putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket.  She's also been more vocal than expected.  I think she's got a bright future here at South Alabama."    

Junior Breanna Hall and sophomore Sharon Sanders are two other players who should also help at one of the guards spots for the Jaguars this season.  

"Breanna Hall is an excellent shooter and has a good mid-range game," Fowler said.  "She's going to have to make open shots for us.  When people really start locking her up, she's going to have to be able to put the ball on the floor and create something.

"Sharon Sanders has provided us with some great energy.  She's really active on the defensive end of the floor.  We've got to have her activity and energy out on the court.  (Offensively) She's more of a driver than a shooter, so she's got to be able to take those open driving lanes and be able to finish when she gets to the basket."

Speaking of the versatility of the position, one other player who will see time out on the perimeter will be Rachel Cumbo.  Cumbo is slated to play at both the three and the four spots to help with depth. Cumbo was originally signed to play at one of the guard positions after finishing her prep career at Westside High School in Houston, Texas.  Cumbo – now in her third season at USA – has battled back from a pair of knee injuries the last two seasons, which has limited her to just nine games.  

Fowler is looking for Cumbo to have an impact this season both out on the perimeter and in the post.

"She will play some for us on the perimeter," Fowler stated.  "Her versatility gives us other opportunities and we want to have our best players on the floor anytime we can.  She's definitely one of our best, so we're going to take advantage of her being able to play at both the four spot and the three spot, in order to help us come out on top during games."  

The frontrunner right now to take hold of the starting point guard position is sophomore Brittany Webb.  Webb saw significant action off the bench as the back up to El – a two-year starter for USA – a year ago and started two games at the point.  The Whiteland, Ind., native averaged 3.4 points per game and dished out 29 assists.  She also knocked down 37.5 percent of her three-point attempts.  

Fowler is looking for Webb to further embrace the leadership role this season.

"Brittany is a quiet individual, so we need to get her more vocal," Fowler said.  "That's part of being a sophomore though.  She needs to talk more.  I think she's answered some of the challenges that we've asked her to do, but she's got to improve on those and I expect her to."

While she won't immediately help out on the floor this season in games, the Jaguars have one other player on the roster that should contribute down the line.  Juliann Miller, who transferred from Evansville University over the summer, played in 21 games for the Purple Aces and averaged 4.2 ppg last season.  Miller will have to redshirt this season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be able to practice with the team and have two years of eligibility following the season.

"Juliann makes open shots and the tough shots," Fowler said.  "In some of our scrimmage and late-in-the-clock situations, she's made those tough baskets.  She's a competitor and I think that's her biggest trait.  She's going to be a vital part to the future of this program.  She's going to give our players great looks from a scouting standpoint because of her competitiveness and her ability to put the ball on the floor, as well as her ability to make open three's."

South Alabama will practice on Thursday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. in the Strplin Practice Facility, before holding a closed scrimmage on Friday afternoon.  On Sunday, the Jaguars will enter their first game-week preparations as they get ready to host Mobile in the team's lone exhibition contest on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 1:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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