Game 9 - vs. Ole Miss Game Notes (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will look to extend its current win streak Monday night when the Jaguars welcome Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss the Mitchell Center. Tip-off versus the Rebels is set for 7:05 p.m.
Live stats and web streaming for the contest versus Ole Miss will be available at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama (2-6) comes into Monday's contest versus Ole Miss after breaking for a week for final exams. USA also enters its final non-conference home game riding some momentum as the Jaguars have won their last two outings.
In its latest victory, South Alabama defeated preseason Ohio Valley favorite Tennessee Tech. USA got off to a quick start from the outside and knocked down a season-high nine treys.
Freshman guard Colby Davis paced the club with a career-high 14 points off the bench. Davis has now scored double figures in two of her last three games. The Wylie, Texas, native is averaging 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Jags.
Offensively, Meghan Dunn continues to lead the club, as she is averaging 11.8 ppg. Dunn has knocked down 15 three-pointers this season and is shooting 38.5 percent from the arc.
Rachel Cumbo leads not only the team, but the Sun Belt in the same category as she is connecting on 52.0 percent of her attempts from the outside. As a team, South Alabama leads the SBC, hitting 34.4 percent of its long-range attempts. The sophomore guard is third on the team in scoring with 8.6 ppg, while also pulling down 4.9 rpg.
Despite scoring just five points versus TTU, Jennifer Johnson still ranks second on the club just outside double figures with 9.7 ppg. Prior to the game versus the Golden Eagles, Johnson had scored 15 or more points in three-straight games.
On the glass, senior forward Ronneka Robertson paces the club. Her 8.9 rebounds per game are second-most in the Sun Belt. She is coming off a career-best 16 boards versus Tennessee Tech.
Former Jaguar volleyball player Olivia Mohler joined the program on Friday (Dec. 13) and is expected to be dressed out for Monday's game. Mohler averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior at Vancleave High School in Vancleave, Miss.
Ole Miss (7-4) enters the game versus the Jags winners of six straight. Like USA, this will be the Rebel's first game in over a week as they defeated Mississippi Valley State, 72-60, in their last outing back on Dec. 7.
"Ole Miss is playing well under their new coaching staff," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "It took the a few games to kind of get settled in and it seems like they're figuring some things out and have it rolling now. Their size is going to present some problems for us. Their three-player is about 6-1 and they have a great point guard in (Valencia) McFarland. She's probably one of the best that we will see on our schedule this season. We're going to really have to contain her. In the post, Ole Miss just can really score. They also play multiple defenses and mix them up, which will also present us with some problems. It's going to be important for us to recognize those defenses and limit our turnovers. They are a formidable opponent and we're looking forward to the game, especially playing here at the Mitchell Center."
Senior guard Valenica McFarland - a second-team all-SEC selection in the preseason - leads the Rebels offensively. The Edwards, Miss., native ranks fifth in the SEC in scoring (15.7), sixth in assists (5.7) and is tied for seventh in steals (2.5). In 11 games, she has dished out 63 assists and recorded 28 steals.
In the post, Tia Faleru, who played her prep ball at Carroll High School in Ozark, Ala., has had a career-year thus far. Faleru is nearly averaging a double-double with 15.6 ppg and 9.9 rpg. She has had five double-doubles so far this season. Faleru leads the SEC on the glass, as her rebound tally is 0.1 ahead of Kentucky's Samarie Walker. She is also sixth in scoring and eighth in the league in shooting, knocking down 47.5 percent of her field-goal opportunities.
As a team, Ole Miss is averaging 74.6 points per game. The Rebels also lead the conference and rank fourth in the NCAA defending the three-point line, holding opponents to just 20.3 percent shooting. UM is also third in the league in rebounding with 44.8 per game.
The Rebels are led by first-year head coach Matt Insell. Insell - the son of Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Insell - arrived in Oxford after spending the previous six seasons in Lexington, where he helped lead the Wildcats to four 20-win seasons and four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
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).
NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Ole Miss will be the sixth in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Rebels hold a slim 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. UM won the first two meetings in the series, while the Jaguars won the next two. Ole Miss picked up the last meeting, 54-45 in Oxford back during the 2011-12 season. The game against Ole Miss will mark the 108th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 20-87 all-time versus SEC members.
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