Game 15: vs. UT Arlington Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team close out its current homestand Saturday afternoon when the Jaguars hosts UT Arlington.  Tip-off versus the Mavericks is set for 2 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

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 (5-9, 1-4 SBC) comes into Saturday's game against UTA after suffering a heartbreaking 73-71 loss to Texas State in its last outing.  The Jaguars got off to a great start and eventually led by as much as 18 two minutes into the second half, but the Bobcats used a pair of 13-2 runs in the second half to rally back and pick up the two-point win.

Despite the loss, South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler looks for his team to bounce back from the tough loss.

"First of I'd like to thank coach (Dan) Presel and our staff for the outstanding job they did with our team in my absence," Fowler said.  "I expect us to be ready, because after such a tough loss you see how close you are and you don't want that feeling to linger."

Fowler missed the game against the Bobcats due to illness.

Juliann Miller led USA with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a 4-for-5 performance from behind the arc.  Over the course of her last two games, Miller has posted new career best and averaged 19 points per game and shot 66.7 percent from the field as she has knocked down 14 of her 21 shot attempts.

Miller leads the team shooting, connecting on 52.1 percent of her attempts.  In her five Sun Belt games, the senior guard is averaging 10.6 ppg and is shooting 61.8 percent from the floor.

Despite the loss, the 71 points scored against the Bobcats were a season high for the club.  USA also dished out a season-best 17 assists, while turning the ball over just 14 times.  The 44.3 field-goal percentage was the second-best shooting performance for the Jags this season, and hit a season-high 11 three-pointers.

South Alabama continues to be led offensively by Marquita Daniels' 9.4 points per outing.  Daniels is also second on the club in steals (20) and third in assists (21).

Redshirt freshman Genesis Perrymond is coming off a 14 point performance in her last outing.  Perrymond is second on the team in scoring (8.1) and leads the club with 17 made three-pointers.

South Alabama currently leads the Sun Belt and ranks sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 6.2 per game.   The Jaguars are also 32nd nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.352) and 49th in scoring defense (56.9).  USA is first in the league field-goal percentage defense and second in scoring defense.  

Sophomore center Chyna Ellis has been outstanding defensively in the post this season.  She currently ranks first in the Sun Belt and 26th in the NCAA in blocks with 2.64 per game and 37 on the season.  In five SBC games, Ellis is averaging 3.8 blocks per game.  She has had two or more blocks in 11 of her 14 games, including each of the last seven.

UT Arlington enters play this weekend with a 7-7 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the league.  The Mavericks are coming off an 88-71 loss at Troy on Thursday.  The Trojans broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring UTA 30-14 and shooting 50 percent from the floor.  Troy also shot 53.1 percent in the second half.

Cierra Johnson led the Mavs offensively with a career-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting.  Johnson leads the team and ranks 15th in the Sun Belt in scoring with 11.6 ppg.  In her four SBC outings this season, Johnson has been even better, raising that average to 18.0 ppg and connecting on 52.9 percent of her shot attempts.

While her offensive production has been solid, Johnson has been even better at the other end of the floor as she leads the Sun Belt and ranks sixth in the nation with 3.43 steals per game.  The sophomore guard has 48 on the year entering Saturday's contest.

Amara Wainwright and Rebekah Van Dijik each sit just shy of averaging double figures at 9.6 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.  Wainwright is not only one of the top three-point shooters in the conference, but in the nation.  The senior's 43.8 three-point field-goal percentage is tied for third with Arkansas State's Brittany Fowler and ranks 19th in the latest NCAA rankings.  Her 2.0 treys per game are also fourth in the league.  She also ranks among the conference leaders in field-goal percentage (.460 - 13th) and assists 2.6 - T-11th).

Van Dijk is shooting 46.4 percent from the floor, which is 12th-highest in the league, and her 1.4 blocks per game average is tied for fourth.  Van Dijk is nearly averaging a double-double in SBC play with 11.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg.

"UTA has always prides themselves at the defensive end of the floor, but this season they've really got a balanced scoring attack both inside and out on the perimeter," Fowler said of USA's next opponent.  "They do a good job of producing offense off of turnovers.  We have to take care of the basketball and attack their multiple defenses."

UT Arlington is allowing just 56.1 points per game and is holding opponents to 37.5 percent shooting, both of which rank second in the SBC.  UTA also leads the Sun Belt in three-point shooting (.346) and rebounding defense, limiting the opposition to just 33.5 boards per game.

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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