Game 28 - at Arkansas State Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will travel to Arkansas State on Thursday for the club's final road game of the 2014-15 season.  Tip-off versus the Red Wolves is set for 5:05 p.m. at the Convocation Center.  

Live stats, the Jaguars' audio broadcast and web streaming of the contest versus Arkansas State can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-22, 2-16 SBC) heads out for the final time this season as the Jaguars travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to take on defending champ and preseason favorite Arkansas State.

USA is coming off a disappointing 45-38 loss to Louisiana-Monroe last Thursday.  The Jags struggled offensively in the loss to the Warhawks, shooting a season-low 22.6 percent from the field.  South Alabama pulled within three (35-32) on a runner by Breanna Hall at the 5:26 mark, but the Jags managed just two free throws over the next four minutes.  

Hall was held to just four points in the loss.  Despite the game against ULM, she continues to lead the team offensively and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring with 15.4 ppg.  The Mesquite, Texas, native also ranks among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (T-14th – .431), free-throw shooting (third – .813), three-point shooting (first – .417) and three-pointers per game (second – 2.4).  She is 23rd in the NCAA in three-point shooting and has scored double figures 22 times on the year and in 34 of her last 39 games dating back to the '13-14 season.

Hall has 17 games with two or more three-pointers, including 12 with three or more and her 60 three-pointers are seventh-most in a season at USA.  She also lists among the single-season leaders in three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.

Freshman center Chyna Ellis made a bit of history against the Warhawks as she became USA's freshman blocks leader.  Ellis – who had a career-high six blocks versus ULM – passed former Jag LaSandra Jenkins (1981-82).  She has 51 blocks on the year – which is seventh-most overall for a season at USA.

Ellis also posted her sixth double-double of the season against ULM, finishing with 14 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds.  The Cordova, Tenn., native is averaging 8.0 ppg and 7.6 rpg - sixth in the Sun Belt.  She also now leads the conference in blocks with 2.0 per outing.  Of her 51 blocks, 41 have come against SBC foes.  Ellis had 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in the first meeting this season against Arkansas State.

Fellow freshman Marquita Daniels (9.4 ppg) has also had a solid season for the club.  Coming into the game versus ASU, Daniels' 45 steals this season are tied for third most (Stephanie Richardson – 1987-88) for a South Alabama freshman and are just one steal behind Jessica Webb (46 – 1997-98) for second place.  Daniels is 10th in the SBC in steals.  She is averaging 2.0 steals per game against Sun Belt competition.

Arkansas State (19-9, 14-4 SBC) enters the game versus USA trying to secure the second seed in this year's conference tournament.  The Red Wolves currently hold a half-game lead over Troy for the final spot.  With a win, they will lock up the second seed due to taking both meetings this season against the Trojans.  

ASU is coming off an 83-74 loss at Texas State over the weekend.  The Red Wolves trailed by as much as 22 in the second half and rallied back to pull within two with under four to go, but the Bobcats scored 13 of the game's final 19 points to pick up the win.

The Red Wolves have been outstanding at home over the past two seasons, holding a 22-3 record at the Convocation Center during that span.

"Arkansas State has just continued to improve throughout this season since our meeting with them at the start of conference play," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "Aundrea Gamble has taken her game to a different level.  As we've gotten closer to tournament play, she has really stepped up her game for them.  They have balanced scoring with three players averaging double figures and one just outside it.  That makes them difficult to defend.  You can't just key in on one or two players.  Arkansas State is a team that plays hard and you can see that they are the type of team that wants to be playing well as they head into the tournament."

Defending SBC player of the year, Aundrea Gamble, is second in the SBC in scoring and first in assists – 37th nationally in those two categories – averaging 19.4 ppg and dishing out 140 assists for a 5.0 apg.  Gamble also ranks among the conference leaders in free-throw shooting (eighth – .787) and field-goal percentage (11th – .462).

Joining Gamble in double figures are Khadija Brown-Haywood (11.2) and Jasmine Hunt (10.4).  Brown-Haywood is eighth in the conference in field-goal percentage (.475), while Hunt is fourth in that same category at .509.  As a team, the Red Wolves lead the SBC and rank 12th in the NCAA in field-goal percentage, connecting on 45.2 percent of their shot attempts.

Hanna Qedan sits just outside double digits averaging 9.9 points per contest.  The senior guard ranks as one of the top outside shooters in the Sun Belt (fifth – .366).  Jessica Flanery is also a threat from deep shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.  ASU is converting 33.0 percent of its long-range attempts.

Arkansas State took the first meeting this season against South Alabama, rallying back from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat the Jaguars 62-50 in Mobile.  The Red Wolves outscored USA 40-15 in the second half to pick up the 12-point win.  USA shot the ball just 18.8 percent in the second half and committed 18 of its 26 turnovers in the period.  Gamble (17) and Qedan (10) combined for 27 of ASU's 40 second-half points, after the duo was held to just two points apiece during the first 20-minutes of play.

NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Arkansas State will mark the 43rd in the all-time series between the two programs.  ASU holds a 32-10 advantage in the series.  The Red Wolves have won the last four meetings in the series with the Jaguars.  Arkansas State took the first meeting this season, picking up a 62-50 win in Mobile.  The Red Wolves hold a 13-2 lead in games played in Jonesboro.  Marquita Daniels' 45 steals this season are tied for third most (Stephanie Richardson - 1987-88) for a South Alabama freshman and are just one steal behind Jessica Webb (46 - 1997-98) for second place.  USA's Breanna Hall (.417) leads the SBC and is 23rd in the NCAA in three-point shooting.  The Red Wolves lead the SBC and rank 12th in the NCAA in field-goal percentage (.452).  Hall has scored double figures 22 times on the year and in 34 of her last 39 games dating back to the '13-14 season.

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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