Game 17: at UL Monroe Game Notes (.pdf)

MONROE, La. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will continue its three-game Sun Belt Conference road trip Saturday afternoon when the Jaguars travel to take on UL Monroe.  Tip-off versus the Warhawks is set for 2 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

Live stats and both audio and web streaming for the contest versus the Warhawks 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.

"UL Monroe runs a ton of offensive sets and they really try to get the ball inside," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "ULM sets a lot of screens and movement in their offensive sets. They have really good perimeter play as well.  They also run multiple types of defense, so with one day of preparation, it's going to be tough for us.  The good thing is that they run a lot of things we've seen before.  We just have to be focused and have a high concentration level and stick to the game plan.  We are going to have to execute better than we did at UL Lafayette."

South Alabama (6-10, 2-5 SBC) comes into the game versus the Warhawks after suffering a 69-50 loss at UL Lafayette on Thursday.  The Ragin' Cajuns closed the first quarter on a 20-3 run and take a 12-point lead after the first 10 minutes of action.  ULL held a 44-26 advantage over the Jaguars 44-26 in points in the paint.

Chyna Ellis posted her third double-double of the season in the loss, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Ellis was 7-of-11 from the field and had a pair of blocks.  

Ellis currently ranks first in the Sun Belt and 24th in the NCAA in blocks with 2.75 per game.  She has 44 on the season, which is second-most by a sophomore in program history.  She now has 100 for her career – fifth on the career list.  Ellis has recorded five or more blocks four times this season and in her six conference games this season, and is averaging 3.71 bpg in those games.  She has had two or more blocks in 13 of her 16 games, including each of the last nine.

The 6-2 center also ranks fourth in the Sun Belt on the glass with 7.9 boards per outing.  Over her last four games, Ellis 12.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, while knocking down 55.2 percent of her shot attempts.

Over that same stretch, Juliann Miller has also been a standout for the Jaguars.  The redshirt senior is averaging 13.5 points per game and shooting 51.4 percent in her last four games.  Miller is averaging 6.9 ppg and shooting a team-best 48.3 percent this season.

South Alabama has 101 blocks on the season, which ranks as seventh-most in a single season in program history.  The 101 blocks also rank 16th-most in the NCAA.  The Jags currently leads the Sun Belt and is tied with Stanford, Chattanooga and Connecticut for fifth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 6.3 per game.   

USA is also 33rd nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.356) and 52nd in scoring defense (57.5).  South Alabama leads in the league field-goal percentage defense and three-point field-goal defense (.280), and is second in scoring defense.  

UL Monroe (8-8, 2-5 SBC) enters the game this weekend fresh off is second-straight fourth-quarter comeback, defeating second-place Troy (77-73).  The Warhawks trailed by 11 points versus the Trojans with less than nine minutes to go, but outscored Troy 27-14 during the final quarter.

ULM also rallied from a seven-point deficit with seven to go last Saturday at Georgia Southern, which was capped off by Daja Chase's shot at the buzzer, giving the Warhawks a two-point win.

The Warhawks are led by the duo of Alayshia Hunter and Chelsea Tieuel, who each had 20 points apiece Thursday night against Troy.

Hunter, a 6-1 senior forward from Killeen, Texas, ranks among the conference leaders in numerous categories.  Hunter is fourth in the league in scoring (16.7) and in a four-way tie for fifth in rebounding (7.1).  Her .550 field-goal percentage is third-best in the Sun Belt and 31st in the NCAA.  She also ranks among the conference leaders in blocks (second – 1.7), defensive rebounds (fourth – 5.3) and free-throw shooting (10th – .756).

Tieuel has also been a solid offensive weapon for the Warhawks this season as she is averaging 10.9 ppg.  The 5-9 sophomore is fifth in the league in three-pointers per game (2.0) and ninth in three-point shooting (.356).  She is also tied for fifth in free-throw shooting (.786) and seventh in the SBC in steals (2.0).

Tieuel has recorded 20-plus points in each of her last two outings and knocked down four or more treys in each of those games.  

Chase is averaging 9.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg – second in the Sun Belt.  Chase is also second in offensive rebounds (3.2) and third in defensive rebounds (5.4).  Chase has been outstanding in the post in league play as she has one double-double in SBC action and was one rebound shy of another in four other league games, including Thursday night against Troy as she had 16 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, ULM leads the conference in rebound margin (+3.4) and ranks second in both field-goal percentage defense (.373) and defensive rebounds (26.8).  The Warhawks are also third in the SBC in blocks with 4.0 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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