MOBILE, Ala. –The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will play its first and only road game in December against intrastate foe UAB on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
 Fans can watch the game on UABSports.com, listen at http://995thejag.com/listen, or get updates on Twitter (@SouthALWBB) or live stats via USAJaguars.com.
 
South Alabama just completed a four-game homestand on Monday with a 74-31 loss to NC State.  The Jaguars recorded just 10 points and suffered a nearly 16 minute stretch without a field goal in the first half.  The Wolfpack went on a 28-0 run that started at the 5:31 mark in the first quarter and lasted until Davis hit a pair of free throws with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter.  NC State shot a blistering 50% (13-26) from the field and 66.7% (6-9) from the three-point line while the Jags only shot 12% (3-25) from the field and 18.2% (2-11) from three.  In the second half, South Alabama would shoot the ball slightly better, connecting on eight of its 33 attempts for 24.2% percent, but the Wolfpack would not allow the Jags to get any closer than 24 points and shot 41.2% in the half. 
 
"I stressed to the team afterwards that we didn't compete in the NC State game," said head coach Terry Fowler.  "We let not making shots on the offensive end affect us on the defensive end.  The energy and effort that's required to play against a high level team like NC State wasn't there at all."
 
The Jaguars opened the December homestand with a 57-48 loss to Southern Mississippi on Dec. 4, but strung together two straight wins last week against Southern (57-48) and William Carey (62-39).  The victory against William Carey was the largest margin of victory so far this season. 
 
The game against UAB on Wednesday will be the last of the nonconference portion of the 2016-17 campaign.  The five nonconference wins this season are the most since the 2012-13 squad went 7-3 to start the year.  The Jags open Sun Belt play against another intrastate foe, Troy, on Dec. 31 at 1:00 p.m.
 
"I'm looking to see if our team can bounce back and bring the energy, effort and execution against UAB," said Fowler.  "This season we've always responded back after a tough loss, so I expect this to be no different.  I want to see us make some shots and just have positive energy before we depart for the holiday break and then come back for the start of conference play against Troy."
 
The meeting between South Alabama and UAB will mark the 42nd in the all-time series between the two clubs.  UAB holds a 24-11 record in the series and has won the only two meetings under Fowler's tenure at South Alabama.  The Blazers defeated the Jaguars 53-39 last season on Dec. 13 at the Mitchell Center.  South Alabama's last win against UAB came on Nov. 11, 2008 (77-64) in Mobile.
 
UAB (5-4) defeated Troy 81-77 on the road on Sunday to snap a two-game losing streak.  The two losses came to then No. 7 Florida State 83-47 at home on Dec. 12 and at Samford 52-49 on Dec. 9.  The Blazers have a 2-2 record at home, defeating High Point 75-66 and Mississippi Valley State 80-46 and losing to Belmont 72-58 in the home-opener.  UAB returns one starter, sophomore guard Deanna Kuzmanic, and six other letterwinners from last season's squad that finished tied for eighth (15-16, 7-11 C-USA) in the final league standings.
 
"UAB is a young team and has several underclassmen in the rotation," said Fowler.  "They can really shoot the basketball.  On offense they have a lot of movement to get open looks for their shooters.  They can cause some trouble for us with that movement and also stretching the floor.  They somewhat resemble us on the other side of the floor. "
 
UAB's seven active freshmen have accounted for nearly half of its points this season.  Freshman guard Miyah Barnes is the leading scorer with 9.9 points per game and also leads the team in assists (3.3 apg).  Redshirt-junior forward Keonna Farmer leads the team in rebounds (7.2 rpg), steals (2.0 spg) and blocks (0.9 bpg) while also averaging 6.7 ppg.
 
In seven outings the Blazers' bench accounts for 47.2% (227-of-481) of its total points.  Through seven games, UAB is shooting 38.9 percent (44-of-113) from long range.  The Blazers were shooting the fifth-best three-point FG percentage in the NCAA through its first seven games - before being held to 15-of-63 (23.8 percent) in its last three games.  In its home contests, UAB was shooting 49.0 percent (24-of-49) from 3-point range before its loss to Florida State.
 
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your our ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.
 
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).