Game 21 - vs. Texas State Game Notes (.pdf)MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will open up the month of February at home on Thursday night when the Jaguars host Texas State. Tip-off versus the Bobcats is set for 5:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center. Thursday's game will also begin a stretch in which USA will play three of its next four on its home floor.
Live stats, the Jaguars' audio broadcast and web streaming of the contest versus Texas State can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.
South Alabama (4-16, 1-10 SBC) comes into Wednesday night's game versus Texas State after falling 55-53 at Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday.
USA trailed by as much as 12 in the second half against ULM, but rallied back late and had a chance to tie the game up in the closing seconds. The Jags were unable to knock down the game-tying shot and Louisiana-Monroe held on for the two-point win.
Despite the loss, South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler believes the team has responded well in practice this week.
"I believe our team feels that we are starting to make strides and improve," Fowler said. "The still believe that we can make a run here and get into the conference tournament. I feel that we are starting to play better defensively and that is where it all starts.
"We have to do better in two areas. First, we have to do a better job on the boards. Second, we've got to limit our turnovers. Those have been the main points of emphasis this week in practice and our kids have responded well."
The Jaguars held ULM to 23 second-half points, but had trouble holding onto the ball as South Alabama committed 13 of its 22 turnovers during the final period of play. Louisiana-Monroe also held a 38-24 advantage on the glass, including 20 on the offensive glass which the Warhawks converted into 16 second-chance points. USA had just four offensive rebounds and no second-chance points.
USA was without freshman center Chyna Ellis who didn't travel with the team (personal). Ellis posted her fourth double-double of the season against Louisiana-Lafayette (Jan. 29) with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ellis is tied for seventh in the conference with 7.2 rebounds per game. She is also tied for third in the SBC in blocks with 1.7 per game. Ellis should be back for the game versus the Bobcats.
As a team, South Alabama ranks fourth in the league in blocks with 4.1. The 81 blocks by USA are the most since the '08-09 season (155).
Breanna Hall led the Jaguars with 15 points versus the Warhawks. Hall leads the team and tied for fourth in the conference in scoring with 15.4 ppg. The Mesquite, Texas, native also ranks among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (15th - .433), free-throw shooting (second – .818), three-point shooting (first – .432) and three-pointers per game (tied-second – 2.3). She has also scored double figures in 28 of her last 32 games dating back to the '13-14 season.
Texas State (12-8, 7-4 SBC) enters play this week tied with Troy for third in the latest Sun Belt standings. The Bobcats had their three-game win streak snapped over the weekend when the fell 83-81 in double overtime to Louisiana-Lafayette at home.
ULL led by seven with less than two to play, but the Bobcats clawed their way back before time expired. The Ragin' Cajuns grabbed 25 offensive rebounds in the contest, which led to 13 second chance points for UL-Lafayette. Texas State had just 10 offensive boards.
"Texas State is playing well and it seems that they are getting better each week," Fowler stated. "They are scoring the ball a lot better. They had been relying on their guard play early on, but their post players have really stepped it up lately. It seems like they are getting great balance now, so that concerns us. Their size and physicality was an issue in the first meeting this season, so we'll have to be prepared for that."
The Bobcats out rebounded the Jaguars 52-36 in the first meeting. Kileah Mays recorded a double-double in that contest, finishing the night with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Jacqueline Jeffcoat also grabbed 11 boards for Texas State. The Bobcats are second in the Sun Belt in rebounding (41.6) and first in defensive rebounds, pulling down 27.7 per outing. Mays ranks fifth in the league in rebounds with 8.4 per game, while Erin Peoples and Jeffcoat are each pulling down 7.1 per game.
On the offensive side of the ball, Peoples currently ranks seventh in the league in scoring with 14.3 ppg, while also ranking among the league leaders in steals (11th) and field-goal percentage (14th). She is connecting on 45 percent of her shot attempts.
Fellow guards Aryiel Anderson (11.1) and Meghan Braeuer (10.8) are also averaging double digits and rank 18th and 19th, respectively in the conference in that category. Anderson is tied for third in assists, dishing out 4.4 per game, and has also turned herself into a threat from the outside as she is shooting 35 percent from the arc and averaging 1.8 treys per game. She ranks ninth in the SBC in three-point shooting and sixth in threes per outing.
Braeuer is not only one of the top three-point shooters in the Sun Belt, but also nationally. Her 42.5 three-point percentage not only ranks second in the conference, but is 25th-best in the NCAA. She leads the SBC with 2.6 treys per game. As a team, Texas State is second in three-point shooting (.350) and leads the league with 6.9 threes per game.
NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Texas State will mark the fifth in the all-time series between the two programs. Texas State has won all four of the previous meetings, including a 63-42 decision in San Marcos earlier this season. South Alabama is 0-2 in the series in games played in Mobile. Texas State won last year's meeting on the Jags' home floor (64-60). The Bobcats joined the Sun Belt last season and are in their second year in the league.
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).
—USA—
