Game 13 - vs. Applachian State Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – Coming of a two-game road trip, the University of South Alabama women's basketball returns home Thursday night in still in search of its first Sun Belt Conference win when the Jaguars host Appalachian State.  Tip-off versus the Mountaineers is set for 5:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

"It's important that we come back and take advantage of this home stretch," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "One of our missions is to protect the Mitchell Center.  One of the keys to being successful in conference play and advancing anytime you're in conference play is to win your home games.  

"Appalachian State is a team that scores over 70 points per game.  [Maryah] Sydnor is an unbelievable skill player at her size.  She can shoot the three and play in the low-post.  She presents a lot of problems, as well as [Katie] Mallow.  She's a catch-and-shoot type player with range who can take you off the dribble.  App State is a great offensive team and we're going to have to be able to put up some points against them.  We're going to have to limit them in transition and their ability to push the ball."

Live stats and web streaming of the contest versus Appalachian can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.

South Alabama (3-9, 0-3 SBC) returns home after falling 71-37 at Arkansas-Little Rock on Monday night.  UALR jumped out to an early nine-point advantage and broke things open with a 23-0 run during the first half.  The Trojan run was aided by a nearly 10-minute scoreless drought.

With the loss to the Trojans, USA has now lost seven straight games and eight consecutive Sun Belt Conference road outings.

During its current seven-game skid, the Jaguars are averaging 50.7 ppg and shooting 34.8 percent from the field, while averaging 23.0 turnovers per game.  Its opposition is averaging 69.9 points per game and shooting 45.5 percent during that time, while committing just 16.9 turnovers per outing.

Despite having her streak of 15-straight games in double figures snapped at UALR, Breanna Hall continues to lead the club and rank third in the SBC with her 15.9 points per game average.  The Mesquite, Texas, native also ranks among the league leaders in  free-throw shooting (2nd – .850), three-point shooting (3rd – .455) and three-pointers per game (3rd – 2.3).  She has also scored double figures in 22 of her last 25 games.

Freshman guard Marquita Daniels is coming off one of her best outings to date.  The Atlanta, Ga., native tied a season high with 15 points off the bench to lead the club.  Daniels knocked down a career-best four three-pointers in the game.  She now ranks second on the Jag roster in scoring with 7.6 ppg.  Through her first three league contest, Daniels sits just outside double digits with 9.7 points per outing and has hit six of her 11 three-point attempts.

Fellow freshman Chyna Ellis comes into the game averaging 6.7 ppg and leads the club on the glass with 7.0 boards per game – ninth-best in the conference.  Ellis is also second in the Sun Belt in blocks with 1.7 per game.  Seven of her 20 blocks this season have come in her four conference games.

As a team, South Alabama leads the league in blocks with 4.1 per contest.

Appalachian State (6-5, 1-1 SBC) enters the game versus the Jaguars after picking up the program's first Sun Belt Conference victory with a 63-51 home victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Monday.  The Mountaineers are in their first year as a Sun Belt member.

After being tied 27-all at the intermission, App State grabbed the lead and pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Ragin' Cajuns by 12 in the final period of play and shooting 61.1 percent.  Mountaineers used a 12-2 run over final five minutes to secure win.

Maryah Sydnor and Katie Mallow each recorded 14 points in the win to lead the way offensively for ASU.  Sydnor also pulled down 13 rebounds.

Syndor currently ranks second in the Sun Belt in scoring with 17.7 ppg, while her 8.3 rebounds per game are sixth-most in the conference.  The senior post player is also tied for ninth in the league in field-goal percentage (.475), first in free-throw shooting (.885) and fourth in minutes (34.9).  Her free-throw percentage also ranks among the NCAA leaders, coming in at 25th highest among Division I players.

As a team, the Mountaineers rank 28th nationally, knocking down 74.9 percent of their attempts at the charity stripe.

Mallow also enters the game against USA averaging double figures with 13.1 ppg, which ranks ninth in the Sun Belt.  Mallow is the top threat from the outside for ASU as she leads the club with 16 made three-point buckets.

Appalachian State leads the conference in both scoring and free-throw shooting.  ASU is averaging 72.5 points per game and is shooting 42.9 percent from the field – third-best in the conference.  The Mountaineers are fourth in the SBC from the outside, connecting on 32.6 percent of their attempts.

The Mountaineers are allowing 75.6 points per game and their opponents to so shoot 41.6 percent from the field.

NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Appalachian State will mark the third in the all-time series between the two programs.  The series is tied 1-1.  This will be the first meeting between the two clubs since the 2002-03 season.  USA won that meeting, defeating the Mountaineers 83-74 in Mobile at the Coca-Cola Classic.  The only other meeting in the series came back during the 1995-96 season where App State won 85-68 at the Carolina Holiday Beach Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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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