Game 25 - at Louisiana-Monroe Game Notes (.pdf)

MONROE, La. – With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team will travel to take on Louisiana-Monroe Wednesday night in a crucial Sun Belt Conference match up.  The two clubs are currently tied for the eighth and final spot in next month's league tournament with USA currently holding the tie-breaker by virtue of its 72-20 win over ULM earlier this season.  Tip-off versus the Warhawks is set for 7 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

"I thought it was a heck of a game when we played Louisiana-Monroe earlier this season," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "It was probably as clean of a game that we've played (all season).  (ULM) has three post players 6-1 or better and that can cause some problems.  They also have great size on the perimeter.  We are going to have to do the same things that we did in the first meeting.  Limit our turnovers and block out and dominate the boards.  Then, we need shoot a good percentage as well.

Live stats and video and of the contest versus Louisiana-Monroe can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.  

The Jaguars (7-17, 5-9 SBC) are looking to snap a recent slump versus ULM as they have lost their last five games and six of their last seven.  South Alabama fell 86-76 to in-state conference rival Troy on Saturday.  The Trojans forced 23 Jag turnovers and converted those miscues into 29 points.  The 23 turnovers by USA marked the 10th time this season that the Jaguars have committed 20 or more turnovers in a game this season.

Troy also pulled down 17 offensive rebounds and took 24 more shots than South Alabama in the game.  In the first meeting versus the Warhawks this season, the Jaguars' ability to control the defensive glass was key in the two-point win.  USA held the Warhawks to nine offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points.

Senior guard Meghan Dunn continues to have a solid season for the Jaguars.  The Hoover, Ala., native has scored double figures in 18 of USA's 24 games this season, including each of her last nine outings.  During that stretch, Dunn has averaged 15.1 ppg, shot 50.5 percent from the field and 46.3 percent from the arc.  She has also hit 23 of her 26 free-throw opportunities over that time.

Dunn ranks 11th in the Sun Belt in scoring with 13.0 points per game, while also ranking second in the conference in threes per game (2.0) and third in three-point shooting (.427).

Rachel Cumbo and Breanna Hall rank second and third on the club in scoring with 9.0 and 8.9 ppg, respectively.  Cumbo continues to lead the conference from beyond the arc as she has connected on 48.8 percent of her long-range attempts.  Like Dunn, Hall has also played well over the last nine games for USA as she is averaging 13.4 ppg during that stretch.  She has recorded double figures in eight of her last 10 games for USA.

Both Hall and Cumbo recorded double digits versus the Trojans.  Hall led South Alabama with 17 points and was 13-of-14 at the foul line.  She is shooting 80.0 percent at the foul line this season.  Cumbo had 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the loss.  

As a teams, South Alabama currently leads the Sun Belt in three-point shooting (,366), three-pointers per game (6.6) and three-point field-goal defense (.292).  In conference action, the Jags are limiting their league foes to 27.5 percent three-point shooting.

Like the Jags, Louisiana-Monroe (9-17, 5-9 SBC) comes into Wednesday evening's game looking to snap a recent skid.  On Saturday, ULM dropped a 92-63 decision at Western Kentucky.  Dating back to their two-point loss in Mobile to USA, the Warhawks have lost eight of their last 10 outings.  

Senior forward Ashleigh Simmons leads Louisiana-Monroe in both scoring (15.2) and rebounding (7.7).  Simmons is fifth in the Sun Belt in scoring and sixth in the league in rebounding coming into play this week.  Simmons also leads the SBC in shooting as her 55.1 field-goal percentage is the highest in the conference.  

Four other players are averaging 8.5 points per outing or better.  Alexar Tuglar is second on the team and 18th in the conference in scoring, while also ranking second in the Sun Belt in three-point shooting (.438) and tied with six other players for fourth in threes per game (1.8).  

In the earlier meeting this season versus the Jags, Simmons and A. Tuglar each had 18 points.  Tuglar also hit four of ULM's five three-pointers in the game.  

Jasmine Shaw sits just outside double digits with 9.7 ppg, while Elexar Tuglar is averaging 9.0 and Sharnice Brooks is averaging 8.5.

E. Tuglar is also tied for fourth in the Sun Belt in assists with Troy's Ashley Beverly-Kelley with 3.6 assists per game.  As a team, Louisiana-Monroe leads the league in assists with 14.3 per game.  

ULM also ranks third in the conference in blocks with 3.5 per game.  

The Warhawks are averaging 40.0 rebounds per outing, including 14.1 on the offensive glass.  

The Jaguars' ability to control the defensive glass versus the Warhawks was a key to the two-point victory back in January.  ULM had pulled down 24 offensive rebounds and had 18 second-chance points in its game versus Troy prior to the first meeting, but USA held the Warhawks to nine offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points.

"(In the first meeting) we were able to defend and blocked out well," Fowler said.  "We just had great energy in that game.  We have to carry that on the road as well.   Every night the keys for us are our energy, effort and togetherness.  We've got to possess all of those things Wednesday night to give ourselves a chance to have some success."

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 Louisiana-Monroe will be the 18th in the all-time series.  South Alabama holds a 12-5 advantage in the all-time series, including a 5-2 advantage in games played in Monroe.  Dating back to the 2007-08, South Alabama has won seven of the last nine meetings.  USA won the first meeting this season between the two clubs, defeating the Warhawks 72-70 in Mobile.

—USA—