Game 14 - at Arkansas State Game Notes (.pdf)
JONESBORO, Ark. – After suffering its first conference loss earlier this week, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team will look to bounce back Saturday afternoon when the Jaguars take on Arkansas State. Tip-off versus the Red Wolves is set for 3:05 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
"Arkansas State has a really good inside-outside attack," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "We're going to really have to try to contain their two best players in (Aundrea) Gamble and (Jane) Morrill. I thought in the Arkansas-Little Rock game that we kind of got out of character and tried to do some different things that we don't normally do. We just have to do what we normally do and do the best we can. Arkansas State has an explosive offense and they play multiple defenses on you. We're just going to have to make sure we recognize those and take advantage of our opportunities and not turn the basketball over."
Live stats and audio for the contest versus Arkansas State will be available at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama (4-9, 2-1 SBC) comes into Saturday's game versus the Red Wolves after suffering its first conference loss of the season on Wednesday at Arkansas-Little Rock. USA led early, but behind an 11-0 run and the play of UALR's Taylor Gault, the Trojans took control and went on to take the 61-42 victory.
The Jaguars lead the Sun Belt behind the arc as they are shooting 36.7 percent from the three-point line and averaging 6.8 treys per game. USA has knocked down seven or more treys eight times this season, but versus the Trojans, the Jags were held to a season-low two.
Ronneka Robertson led the club versus UALR with 10 points and eight rebounds. The senior forward currently ranks second in the league in rebounding with 9.1 boards per game. She is also shooting 41.4 percent from the field and has led the team on the glass in 10 of the Jaguars 13 games this season.
Offensively, Meghan Dunn paces the squad as she is averaging 11.6 points per game - 14th in the Sun Belt. Dunn also ranks among the league leaders from beyond the arc as her .391 three-point shooting is ninth and her 2.0 threes per game are fourth.
USA's other threat from deep is sophomore guard/forward Rachel Cumbo. The Houston, Texas, native leads the Sun Belt with a 55.3 three-point percentage. She is also averaging 1.6 treys per outing, which is tied with two other players for seventh in the conference.
Defensively over the past seven games, the Jaguars have done a much better job defending the three-point line as opponents have shot a combined (21-for-106) for 19.8 percent. South Alabama has held its three Sun Belt opponents to 11-of-51 shooting the Jaguars' two conference games.
South Alabama now ranks third in the league in defending the arc, holding opponents to just 29.3 percent shooting.
Arkansas State (9-6, 3-0 SBC) enters conference action this weekend after picking up a 74-65 win over Troy on Wednesday night. The win was the third straight for the Red Wolves and the fifth in their last six games.
ASU placed four players - Jane Morrill, Aundrea Gamble, Hanna Qedan and Jalen O'Bannon - in double figures in the win over the Trojans. The Red Wolves use a balance attack as the quartet are all averaging double digits.
Gamble has been outstanding for ASU as she ranks second in scoring with 18.1 ppg. Gamble also ranks among the SBC leaders in rebounding, field-goal percentage, free-throw shooting, assists, steals, three-point shooting and three-pointers. Gamble is averaging 6.3 rebounds, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and her 43.8 three-point percentage is second-best among the league's long-range shooters.
Morrill - an all-conference selection - is 12th in the Sun Belt in scoring as she is averaging 12.2 points per game. She is also connecting on 49.0 percent of her shot attempts - which is eighth in the conference.
Qedan and O'Bannon are also averaging double digits with 11.1 and 10.5 points per outing, respectively. Qedan also leads the Sun Belt in free-throw shooting, converting 93.9 percent of her attempts. She has only missed three of her 49 attempts this season.
O'Bannon paces the club and is tied for seventh in rebounds with 6.7 per game. She is also knocking down 47.1 percent of her shots - ninth in the SBC.
As a team, Arkansas State is the top shooting squad in the SBC (.434) and is second in free-throw shooting (.700) and third in scoring (72.4)
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 Arkansas State will mark the 40th meeting between the two programs in the all-time series. Arkansas State holds a 29-10 advantage in the series and 12-2 in Jonesboro. USA has won five of the last seven meetings, with the two clubs splitting the series last season. ASU won the last meeting in Jonesboro, 72-61.
—USA—
