Game 20  - at Troy Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will head back out on the road for a single game when the Jaguars travel to take on in-state Sun Belt Conference rival Troy on Thursday night.  Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m. at the Trojan Arena.

Live stats and video for the contest versus Troy will be available at www.USAJaguars.com.  

South Alabama (7-12, 5-4 SBC) enters the game versus the Trojans coming off a 61-56 victory over preseason Sun Belt favorite Arkansas-Little Rock at home on Saturday.  With the win, USA has won three of its last four games.

The key stat in the victory over the Trojans for the Jags was at the foul line where South Alabama was 22-of-26.  USA now ranks second in the conference in free-throw shooting (.701) and has been better in conference action, knocking down 74.5 percent of its attempts at the charity stripe.  

Breanna Hall (19) and Meghan Dunn (17) led the way offensively for the Jaguars in the win.  The duo was a combined 16-for-17 at the foul line in the victory.  

Dunn continues to pace the club with 12.9 points per game, which ranks 11th-best in the league.  Dunn leads South Alabama with 37 made threes this season and has connected on 40.7 percent of her three-point attempts - sixth in the SBC.  The Hoover, Ala., is shooting 45.5 percent from the arc and averaging 13.7 ppg in her nine league games.

She has scored double figures 13 times this season, including four of her last five outings.  

Sophomore guard Rachel Cumbo ranks as the top long-range shooter in the Sun Belt this season, knocking down 53.1 percent of her attempts.  She is averaging 9.2 ppg, but is a point-and-a-half better in conference play.  Cumbo is shooting 57 percent from beyond the arc in SBC action.  

Hall has also been one of the top outside shooters this season.  Entering play this week, she ranks 13th in the conference, connecting on 35.1 percent of her attempts.  The Mesquite, Texas, native has become a true scoring option for USA in conference play as she is averaging 10.3 ppg in those outings and shooting just under 40 percent from the arc (.394).  With her 19 points versus UALR, Hall has now scored double digits in four of her last five games.  

As a team, South Alabama leads the league in three-point shooting (.375) and threes per game (6.9.  The Jaguars are shooting 40.8 percent from the three-point line in SBC play.  

USA has also done an outstanding job of defending the three-point line.  The Jags are holding opponents to just 29.0 percent from the arc - second in the Sun Belt.  In conference play, opponents are shooting 25.7 percent from long range.  

Like the Jags, Troy (7-13, 3-6 SBC) enters play this week playing much better as of late.  After beginning the conference schedule with five-consecutive losses, the Trojans have won three of their last four outings, including a 83-65 defeat of Sun Belt leader Arkansas State in Troy on Saturday.  The lone loss for the club during the recent stretch came in overtime on the road at Texas State.

"(Troy's) been playing well," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "In three of their last four games, I would say that they've really kicked it in.  They have a high-scoring offense and a prolific scorer in Joanna Harden.  We're not going to be able to stop her, but we've got to figure out a way to slow her down.  Ashley Beverly-Kelley is really good for them and they have a couple of good post players as well.  They give you multiple looks on the defensive end of the floor and extend the zone a little bit.  They will also trap you and pick you up full court, so we have a lot of things to prepare for."

Preseason first-team all-conference guard Joanna Harden - the Sun Belt's scoring leader at 25.2 points per game - has scored double digits in all 20 games this season and set the league's single-game scoring record earlier this season against Alabama-Huntsville with a 52-point outing.  She has scored 20 or more points 16 times this season, including each of Troy's last six games.  Along with being the conference scoring leader, the senior guard ranks fifth nationally in that category.    

Sophomore guard Ashley Beverly-Kelley is tied for eighth in the league in scoring with 13.4 ppg.  She is also tied for ninth in the SBC in three-point shooting (.380).

Entering Thursday's game, Troy leads or is second in the Sun Belt in nine statistical categories.  Troy leads the Sun Belt in scoring (80.3), rebounds 44.9), defensive rebounds 29.7), blocks (4.7) and steals (10.2). The Trojans also second in field-goal percentage defense, three-pointers made, offensive rebounds and opponent turnovers.

Troy's offense is also 13th nationally coming into the game.  The Trojans have scored 80 or more points 10 times this season, including each of their last four SBC games.  Troy has also reached the century mark three times this season, highlighted by a 118-point performance against UAH.

"Troy wants to really get up and down the floor and try to outscore you," Fowler said.  "We've got to be able to not allow that to happen.  One of the keys to success when you play them is that you have to be able to score.  Our transition defense will also have to be good when we play them."

The Trojans are shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from the three-point line.  

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 Troy will be the 39th in the all-time series.  South Alabama leads the all-time series 20-18 and has taken 16 of the last 20 meetings.  Since the Trojans have joined the Sun Belt, USA holds a 15-3 advantage.  The Jaguars took both meetings during the regular season a year ago, but Troy erased a 15-point first-half deficit to upset South Alabama in the conference tournament, 62-49.  USA's Meghan Dunn and Troy's Brianna Lancaster were teammates for one season at Shelton State Community College.  Troy's Joanna Harden enters Thursday's game with 979 career points and is 21 points away from becoming the 20th player in Troy history with 1,000 points.

—USA—