Game 14: vs. Texas State Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will look to "Pack the House" Thursday morning as the Jaguars welcome Texas State to the Mitchell Center.  Tip-off versus the Bobcats is set for 11 a.m.

"The 'Pack the House' game is special for our players," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "This will be a great experience for our kids, especially for our freshmen.  We are expecting to have anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 screaming kids.  It's going to be a great atmosphere for us to play in.  I'm really excited that we are able to be part of the event."

The game is part of South Alabama's annual "Pack the House" event and will mark the fifth season that USA has hosted the event.  The Jags are expecting around 3,000 local elementary and middle school children to attend the contest.  The students will be able to attend a career fair on the concourse level prior to tip off.

In its previous four "Pack the House" games, USA has been successful, holding a 3-1 record in those outings.  Last season, the Jaguars defeated UL Lafayette 57-47 in front of 2,096 fans.  

Live stats and web streaming for the contest can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.  Fans can also keep up with in-game updates by following action on the program's twitter account @SouthALWBB.

South Alabama (5-8, 1-3 SBC) comes into the contest versus Texas State after capturing its first Sun Belt win of the season.  USA defeated Georgia State, 60-52 on Saturday, snapping a three-game skid.  The Jaguars received a pair of career-high efforts against GSU as Chyna Ellis and Juliann Miller combined for 35 points.

Ellis recorded her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while adding five blocks.  Ellis is tied for third in the league on the glass with 7.7 boards per game, while also ranking third in defensive rebounds (5.2) and eighth in offensive rebounds (2.5).  The 6-2 sophomore center ranks first in the Sun Belt and 26th in the NCAA in blocks with 2.69 per game.  She has 35 on the season.  

In her four conference games this season, Ellis has been even better at the defensive end of the floor as she is averaging 4.3 blocks per game in those outings.  As a team, South Alabama is averaging 8.0 bpg in SBC play.

South Alabama currently leads the Sun Belt and is tied for fourth in the NCAA with Pittsburgh in blocks, averaging 6.4 per game.   The Jaguars are also 28th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.349) and 36th in scoring defense (55.6).  USA is first in the league field-goal percentage defense and defensive rebounds, second in scoring defense and third in three-point field-goal defense, holding opponents to 29.1 percent shooting behind the arc.  

Miller enters Thursday's game after recording 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting against Georgia State.  Miller leads the team with a 49.2 field-goal percentage.  In conference play, she is shooting 59.1 percent.

Offensively, Marquita Daniels leads the club with a 9.4 ppg average.  Daniels is also 10th in the Sun Belt with 20 steals and a 2.2 steals per game average.

Texas State enters the game against the Jaguars with a 7-6 overall mark and a 2-1 record in Sun Belt play.  The Bobcats won their first two league games, defeating Georgia Southern (61-56) and Georgia State (80-71) at home, but falling at Appalachian State (90-71) Saturday.

The Mountaineers broke the game open in the fourth quarter, shooting 60 percent from the field and outscoring TSU 27-15 during the final 10 minutes of action.

Against App State, Texas State had a pair of freshmen make an impact in the Bobcat line up.  De'Joinae Calloway made her season debut and recorded 11 points, while Kiani Lurry came off the bench to record a career-high 25 points on 11-of-20 shooting.  Prior to the 25-point outing, Lurry had recorded just 63 points in her first 12 games of the season.

This season, TSU has been led offensively by the duo of Kaitlin Walla and Taeler Deer, averaging 11.9 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.  Walla is 14th in the Sun Belt in that category, while Deer is 15th.

Walla is also fifth in the conference and 23rd nationally in three-point shooting, knocking down 43.3 percent of her attempts.  She also has 29 treys on the year.

As a team, Texas State has been solid from behind the three-point line.  The Bobcats have 101 threes this season and are averaging 7.8 per game – 28th-most in the NCAA.  Along with Walla, three other players rank among the conference leaders in three-point percentage.  Toshua Leavitt (.458) is second, Deer (.368) is eighth and Raven Burns (.320) is 13th in the SBC in that category.

"Texas State has shown a great ability to score the basketball this season," Fowler said.  "This season, they've transitioned from an inside power team to a three-point shooting team.   They have great guard play.  Their post players are smaller than they have been, but they are really athletic.  We are going to have to do our best to limit their scoring opportunities."

Walla's 2.2 treys per contest are tied with UL Lafayette's Jaylyn Gordon's for second in the league and Leavitt's 1.7 is eighth.

In conference play, Deer has added another element to her game as she has dished out 17 assists, a 5.7 per game average.

Texas State has also done a better job of guarding the three-point line in SBC play, holding opponents to just 21.3 percent shooting, which leads the league.

On the glass, 5-10 sophomore guard Ericka May is sixth in the conference with 7.3 rpg.  Whitney Apari (9.3) and May (8.3) have been even better on the boards in SBC games.

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—