Game 19 - vs. Arkansas-Litttle Rock game notes (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team returns home this weekend to host Arkansas-Little Rock as part of the program's first-ever "Reunion Weekend." Tip off versus the Trojans is set for 2:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
"This is an exciting weekend for our program," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "I think this is the first time that we've had a reunion where we've brought back former players in this format. I've seen a sample of the list of former players coming back and a couple of them played for me when I was an assistant here, so it'll be exciting to see them. We talk a lot to our players about the fact that these former players really set the foundation for us and we play for them. We try to set the standard for those that follow us. I'm looking forward to seeing the former players and have them share some of their experiences with our current players."
USA is expected to welcome back 15 former women's players as part of the event. The group will be recognized at halftime and will get out on the court for an "Old Timers Game" at 11 a.m. prior to the contest versus Arkansas-Little Rock. Among the list of former players to make their return to Mobile are Ella Williams ('85-'89) – who ranks third in program history in scoring, Stephanie Richardson (''87-'91) – who still leads USA with 605 career assists, Taniesha "Slim" Russell ('99-'03) – who ranks ninth on the Jaguars' all-time scoring list, Avia Lewis ('85-'88) and Siedah Banks ('08-'11), among others.
Live stats and video for the contest versus Arkansas-Little Rock will be available at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama (6-12, 4-4 SBC) comes into action this weekend after falling at Georgia State, 63-55, on Thursday. The Jaguars struggled offensively in the first half and trailed by as much as 24 early in the second, before rallying back and getting as close as five.
During the opening 20 minutes of action, USA was just 1-of-13 from the three-point line and finished 7-for-26 from the arc.
Despite the off night from the outside, the Jaguars continue to be the top three-point shooting team in the league as they are averaging 7.0 treys per outing and knocking down 37.2 percent of their attempts. In Sun Belt play, USA has been even better, connecting on 40.1 percent of its opportunities from the arc in its eight league games.
The Jags are 20th in the latest NCAA rankings in three-point percentage.
The trio of Rachel Cumbo, Meghan Dunn and Breanna Hall rank among the top 12 individually. Cumbo, as she has for most of the season, leads the SBC in three-point shooting, knocking down 51.6 percent of her long-range attempts. Dunn - who also ranks second in the league with 2.0 treys per game - comes into the game versus the Trojans hitting 40.1 percent of her attempts - sixth-best in the conference. Hall (.345) is 12th in the SBC.
Cumbo also ranks second in free-throw shooting (.885) and 10th in field-goal percentage (.459). Dunn leads USA in scoring and is 11th in the conference averaging 12.7 ppg. Dunn has scored double-figures seven times this season, including a game-high 17 against the Panthers in her last outing.
South Alabama has also developed into one of the top defensive clubs guarding the arc. USA ranks just behind Arkansas-Little Rock at defending the three-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 28.6 percent. The Jaguars have held their eight Sun Belt opponents to 32-of-129 shooting (.248).
On the glass, senior forward Ronneka Robertson continues to pace the club. Robertson currently ranks second in the Sun Belt with 8.5 rebounds per game and has led the team in that category 13 times.
Arkansas-Little Rock (10-9, 5-4 SBC) enters Saturday's game after defeating Louisiana-Lafayette, 74-60, in Little Rock on Wednesday. UALR has won eight of its nine games at home this season, but are just 2-8 away from its home floor. The Trojans lone road conference win came at Texas-Arlington.
UALR has had a balanced offensive attack this season as four players are averaging nine or more points.
The Trojans are led offensively by junior guard Taylor Gault - a preseason first-team all-conference selection. Gault is sixth in the conference in scoring (14.2) and is fourth in free-throw shooting (.848). The Conway, Ark., native is also connecting on 33.8 percent of her three-point shots.
Kierra Clark (10.2 ppg) ranks ninth in the league in rebounding with 6.4 boards per game. Clark is also shooting 42.6 percent of her shots.
Shanity James (9.4) and Taylor Ford (9.1) sit just outside double digits, while Ford is second in the conference in assists 4.1 per game.
Along with ranking as the top three-point field goal defense (.276), UALR also leads the league in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 57.7 points per game.
The Trojans took the earlier meeting this season from the Jags, defeating USA 61-42 in Little Rock.
"Arkansas-Little Rock is really good. They took away the three-point shot from us," Fowler said. "We were only able to make three three-pointers at their place. They decided that they were going to make us beat them with our inside game. Looking back at the film, we weren't able to get great post position. We're going to have to establish ourselves in the paint (on Saturday) if we are going to have success against them on the offensive end of the floor."
The Trojans have struggled to score this season as their 58.1 ppg average is 10th in the Sun Belt. UALR is also 10th in the conference in free-throw percentage (.634), threes per game (1.9), steals (5.6) and three-point shooting (.262) in Sun Belt games.
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-Little Rock will be the 22nd in the all-time series. USA holds an 11-10 advantage in the all-time series, but the Trojans have taken nine of the last 10 meetings, including the last seven. UALR defeated the Jaguars 61-42 earlier this season in Little Rock.
—USA—
