Game 9 - at UAB Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will close out both its four-game road swing and the non-conference portion of its schedule on Sunday when the Jaguars travel to UAB.  Tip-off versus the Blazers is set for 1 p.m. at Bartow Arena.

Heading into its final game before opening up Sun Belt play against defending league champ Arkansas State, head coach Terry Fowler has had his club focusing on one particular area as the Jags prepare for the Blazers.

"Coming off our two-game swing at Ole Miss and Tennessee Tech, our emphasis (in practice) has been at the defensive end of the floor," Fowler said.  "We have to improve at that end of the floor.  We're really looking for two or three extra stops a game to help us there.  That is one area we will be looking at improving in this game."

Following the game versus UAB, South Alabama will break for Christmas before returning to action versus the Red Wolves on Dec. 30 at the Mitchell Center.

Live stats, web stream and the Jaguars audio broadcast of the contest versus UAB can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.

South Alabama (3-5) comes into Sunday's game at UAB after dropping a 70-66 decision at Tennessee Tech on Tuesday.  USA trailed by as much as 17 in the second half, but rallied back, trimming the deficit to as much as one in the closing seconds, but the Jaguars weren't able to retake the lead.

The loss was the ninth-straight road defeat for the Jags and the 17th in the last 18 games away from the Mitchell Center for the program.  The nine-straight road losses are tied for the fifth-longest streak in team history and the most since the 1999-00 season.

Leading the way during the second-half comeback effort was Breanna Hall who tied a season-high with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting.  Hall also connected on a career-best six three-pointers - the most by a Jag in a game since Jessica Starling's six at Florida Atlantic (1/1/09).

Hall ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring with 17.9 ppg, while also ranking among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (13th - .467), free-throw shooting (third – .821), three-point shooting (fifth – .450) and three-pointers per game (third – 2.6).  With her third 20-point outing of the season, she has also scored double figures in 19 of her last 21 games dating back to the '13-14 season, including her last 12 games.

Freshman guard Marquita Daniels is second on the club in scoring with 7.3 points per game.  Daniels missed the Tennessee Tech game due to a thigh injury and will be a game-time decision.  In her last outing, Daniels recorded 10 points and four steals at Ole Miss.

Following close behind Daniels offensively is Simonne Potts (7.0 ppg), Chyna Ellis (6.4 ppg) and Colby Davis (6.3 ppg).

Potts has knocked down 56.4 percent of her shot attempts and is averaging 5.6 rebounds per game.  Ellis leads the club on the glass with 6.4 boards per outing – 10th in the latest Sun Belt rankings.

Over her last three games, Davis has emerged as another scoring option, averaging 11.3 ppg and shooting 42.3 percent during that stretch.

UAB (5-3) enters the contest versus South Alabama after picking up a 65-56 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home.  The Blazers are now 3-0 at Bartow Arena this season after the win over the Lions.

UAB shot 40.3 percent from the field on the night and outrebounding UAPB 44-25 and held off the Golden Lions, who shot 48.1 percent from the field, including 60 percent second half.

"UAB is a similar type team to us," Fowler said.  "Their coaching staff is in their second year.  We also play similar styles of basketball.  UAB has a dominating post player in Janae Smith.  With us playing similar styles, the game is going to come down to who gets the most stops and who can make some baskets at the offensive end.  I think it's really important that we try to get a win heading into the Christmas break and as we head into the start of conference play."

Janae Smith led the Blazers in the win with 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting.  Smith leads the club in four different categories - scoring (17.7), rebounds (6.7), steals (14) and blocks (15).  Smith ranks among Conference USA leaders in scoring (T - third), rebounding (T15), field-goal percentage (11th), free-throw shooting (third) and blocks (Tied - first).

Junior guard Chelsee Black is also averaging double figures for the Blazers with 12.1 points per outing.  Black also leads the club with 22 assists.

The top outside threat for UAB is Miranda Burroughs who is shooting 41.3 percent from the arc and is averaging 2.1 treys per game, which is tied for fourth in CUSA.

NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and UAB will mark the 40th in the all-time series between the two programs.  The Blazers hold a 25-14 advantage in the series.  UAB holds a 13-4 advantage in the series in games played in Birmingham.  The Jags have lost nine of the last 10 meetings on the Blazers' home floor.  UAB was once a member of the Sun Belt Conference from the 1984-85 season through the 1990-91 season.  South Alabama won last meeting in the series, 77-64 in Mobile back on Nov. 17, 2008.  South Alabama holds an 83-182 all-time record against current Conference USA members.  C-USA has former Sun Belt Conference members in it – Charlotte (8-2), Florida Atlantic (9-7), Florida International (11-17), Louisiana Tech (0-21), Middle Tennessee (4-21), North Texas (8-14) and Western Kentucky (13-47).  FAU, FIU, MTSU and UNT joined C-USA prior to the start of the 2013-14 season and WKU joined the league this past July.  The Jaguars have already faced one C-USA member this season, falling 64-53 to Southern Miss in their season opener in Mobile.

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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