Game 16: at UL Lafayette Game Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will open up a three-game Sun Belt Conference road trip Thursday evening when the Jaguars travel to take on UL Lafayette.  Tip-off versus the Ragin' Cajuns is set for 5 p.m. at the Cajundome.

Following the matchup with ULL, South Alabama will travel to UL Monroe on Saturday and then in-state rival Troy on Tuesday.

Live stats and both audio and web streaming for the contest versus the Ragin' Cajuns 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.

"The success we had against UL Lafayette last year was our ability to get the ball inside," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "We have to get the ball into the paint, but I think the biggest key for us is to not turn the ball over and give them easy points off turnovers."

The South Alabama post duo of Chyna Ellis and Taylor Jenkins combined for 33 points and 39 rebounds in the two meetings versus the Ragin' Cajuns last season.  Ellis had a double-double in each outing and averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds in those two contests.  In USA's 10-point win in Mobile, Ellis and Jenkins combined for 22 points and 24 rebounds.  Ellis notched her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Jenkins nearly recorded a double-double, finishing the game with nine points and 11 rebounds.

South Alabama comes into Thursday night's game against the Ragin' Cajuns after picking up a 59-55 win over UT Arlington over the weekend.  USA's defense got four defensive stops on UTA's last possession and Juliann Miller clinched the win with a pair of free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining.

The win snapped an eight-game Sun Belt Conference home losing streak for USA, which had been the second-longest in program history.

Miller has recorded double figures in each of her last three outings and over that same stretch, the redshirt senior is averaging 16.0 ppg and connecting on 53.3 percent of her shots from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line.

In Sun Belt play, the Louisville, Ky., native has been even better as she is the lone player averaging double figures in South Alabama's six league games.  In those games, Miller is averaging 10.5 points per game and shooting 53.5 percent from the floor.

After struggling at the foul line for much of the first half of the season, South Alabama has shot 75 percent or better in each of its last four contests.  Over that stretch, the Jags are 47-of-60 at the foul line for 78.3 percent.

Sophomore guard Marquita Daniels continues to pace the club offensively, sitting just shy of double figures with 9.7 ppg.  Daniels also has 24 steals, which is second on the roster.

South Alabama currently leads the Sun Belt and ranks fifth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 6.5 per game.  With three more blocks against the Ragin' Cajuns, South Alabama will eclipse the 100-block mark in a season for just the eighth time in program history.

The Jaguars are also 21st nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.346) and 47th in scoring defense (56.7).  USA is first in the league field-goal percentage defense and third in scoring defense.  

Ellis has provided a true post presence for the Jags this season.  She currently ranks first in the Sun Belt and 20th in the NCAA in blocks with 2.80 per game.  She has 42 on the season, which is tied with former Jag Adrian Vickers for second-most by a sophomore in program history.  Ellis has recorded five or more blocks four times this season and in her six conference games this season, the Cordova, Tenn., native is averaging 4.0 bpg.  She has had two or more blocks in 12 of her 15 games, including each of the last eight.

UL Lafayette (12-3, 5-1 SBC) enters play this week tied for second in the SBC with Troy.  Last weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns picked up a pair of road wins, defeating Georgia State (77-57) and Georgia Southern (56-39), both by double figures.

ULL is 5-0 at home this season and dating back to last season, has won nine-straight on its home floor.

UL Lafayette leads the Sun Belt in both scoring defense (55.5) - 33rd in the NCAA – and turnover margin (+7.47) – seventh in the NCAA.  ULL is also second in the conference in scoring margin (+11.5), and third in field-goal percentage defense (.418), three-point field-goal defense (.297), rebounding defense (34.9) and assists-turnover ratio (0.8).

The Ragin' Cajuns have done an excellent job at protecting the ball, as their 207 turnovers are 10th-fewest in the nation, while their 319 forced turnovers are 13th-most.

"UL Lafayette is a team that seems to be on a mission," Fowler said.  "They are a senior-led team with great guard play.  They get after you in the full court.  They also have the ability to put so much pressure on you, both offensively and defensively.  Their perimeter players can really attack the basket and then also pick you up (defensively) in the full court."

Offensively, UL Lafayette is led by the trio of Keke Veal (15.9), Jaylyn Gordon (14.5) and Kia Wilridge (13.3), who rank fourth, seventh and 10th in the Sun Belt, respectively, in scoring.  Veal is also tied for seventh in the league in steals with 30 on the year and 2.0 per game.  Wilridge and Simone Fields are also two of the top shooters in the conference.  Wilridge is connecting on 52.6 percent of her shot attempts - fourth in the SBC - while Fields is sixth with a 50.6 field-goal percentage.

Gordon also ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in eight other statistical categories.  The 5-5 junior guard is tied with Georgia State's Makeba Ponder for the league lead in three-pointers per game as she is averaging 2.3 per outing.  Gordon is also fourth in assists (3.7), assists-turnover ratio (1.3) and minutes (33.3), 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.337), and 12th in steals (1.9) and defensive rebounds (3.9).

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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