Game 17 - vs. Arkansas-Little Rock Game Notes (.pdf)MOBILE, Ala. – Coming off a two-game road swing, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team returns home to play its third game in five days as the Jaguars host Sun Belt Conference leader Arkansas-Little Rock Monday night. Tip-off versus the Trojans is set for 5:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
Live stats, the Jaguars' audio broadcast and web streaming of the contest versus Arkansas-Little Rock can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama (3-13, 0-7 SBC) comes into Monday's game looking to snap a skid. On Saturday, the Jags dropped their 11th-straight game, falling 65-58 at Louisiana-Lafayette.
USA led by three at the break, but ULL outscored the Jaguars by 10 in the final period of play. South Alabama placed four players in double figures, led by Breanna Hall and Rachel Cumbo's 14 points apiece. Ellis (11) and Daniels (10) also ended the night in double figures, while Ellis added a team-high 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
"The thing that I feel our players showed against Louisiana-Lafayette is a full investment in the program," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "We challenged them to be invested in the program and be invested in each other prior to our last game and I think they showed that for the full 40 minutes. That's got to be a starting point and building block as we head into these final 13 games.
Hall leads the team and ranks third in the conference in scoring with 16.1 ppg. The Mesquite, Texas, native also ranks among the league leaders in free-throw shooting (sixth – .806), three-point shooting (third – .422) and three-pointers per game (third – 2.3). She also ranks among the nation's leaders in three-point percentage, coming in at 29th in the latest rankings. Hall has also scored double figures in 25 of her last 29 games dating back to the '13-14 season.
Cumbo's 14 points was a season-high for the redshirt junior, while she also tied a career high with four three-pointers. She now raised her three-point percentage to 30.8 percent. Over her last four games, Cumbo has returned to her three-point shooting form from a year ago, knocking down nine of her 21 attempts (.429).
Daniels (7.7) and Ellis (7.0) are second and third, respectively, in scoring on the Jag roster. Daniels has recorded double figures in four of her last six outings, while Ellis has reached double digits in two of her last three. Ellis leads the club with 26 blocks and is tied for third in the Sun Belt in that category with 1.6 per game. As a team, the Jaguars are second with 3.9 per contest.
Arkansas-Little Rock (13-2, 6-0 SBC) enters the game versus the Jaguars riding a seven-game win streak. The Trojans are the only undefeated team in conference play and currently hold a one-game lead over Arkansas State for top honors.
"Arkansas-Little Rock is the dominant team in our league," Fowler said of Monday's opponent. "They do a great job of imposing their will on you, especially at the defensive end of the floor. They also just grind you out at the offensive end of the floor. They have three to four different players that are play-makers for them. They do a great job of running their system. We're going to have to protect the basketball and score."
UALR has used a balanced attack throughout the season and have three players averaging double figures,
Leading the way offensively is Taylor Gault. Gault's 14.9 points per game ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in scoring. She also ranks seventh in the conference from behind the arc, connecting on 35.2 percent of her shot attempts. The senior guard paces the club in blocks as well with 17.
Dawn Alexius has also made an immediate impact in the Trojan lineup in her first season with the program. The junior guard is averaging 11.2 points per game and ranks sixth in the SBC in assists with 3.4 per game. Alexius also ranks as one of the top three-point shooters in the league as she is knocking down 39.1 percent of her attempts (fourth) and is averaging 2.3 threes per game (tied-fourth).
In the first meeting against USA this season, Dawn had 16 points, while Gault chipped in with 15.
As a team, Arkansas-Little Rock enters play this week leading the Sun Belt in several different categories. The Trojans are tops in the league in scoring defense (51.5), scoring margin (+12.7), field goal percentage defense (.355), three-point percentage (.362), rebounding defense (34.5) and assists-turnover ratio (1.0). UALR is also second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.433), assist (14.5) and turnover margin (+5.7).
UALR has two players ranked among the conference leaders in field-goal percentage. Kaitlyn Pratt's 57.0 shooting percentage is second best in the SBC, while Shanity James is sixth knocking down 50 percent of her attempts.
Directing the Trojan offense is Ka'Nesheia Cobbins. Cobbins - who had nine assists in the first meeting versus the Jags - leads the Sun Belt in that category with 4.9 per game.
NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock will mark the 24th in the all-time series between the two programs. The Jaguars hold a 12-11 advantage in the series. UALR won the first meeting this season, defeating USA 71-37 in Little Rock. The Trojans have won eight of the last nine meetings in the series. The Jaguars are also 1-15 in their last 16 league contest.
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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