MOBILE, Ala. –The University of South Alabama women's basketball team kicks off Sun Belt Conference play against intrastate foe Troy on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
 
 Fans can watch the game on USAJaguars.com, listen at http://995thejag.com/listen, or get updates on Twitter (@SouthALWBB) or live stats via USAJaguars.com.
 
The Jaguars return after being off for nine days from the holiday break.  South Alabama wrapped up the nonconference portion of the schedule with a pair of losses last week at UAB (66-41) and to NC State (74-31).  The losses ended a two-game winning streak after the Jags defeated Southern 55-48 and William Carey 62-39 at home.  South Alabama finished the non-conference slate 5-6, and the five nonconference wins this season are the most since the 2012-13 squad went 7-3 to start the year.
 
Against UAB Chyna Ellis finished with a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds for the team's first double-double and double-digit rebound performance of the season.  Ellis blocked three shots as well, sharing the game-high in rejections with LaNeetra Guillory.  The reigning conference defensive player of the year is averaging 2.6 blocks per game, the most in the conference and 32nd best in the nation.  Erin Autio was the only other double-digit scorer for the Jags at UAB with 13 points, which included making four of five three-point attempts.
 
The meeting between South Alabama and Troy will mark the 44th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  Troy holds a 22-21 record in the series and won the last meeting.  The Trojans defeated the Jaguars 62-49 last season on March 9th in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.  South Alabama beat Troy twice in the regular season last year, 75-71 on Jan. 26 on the road and 65-63 on Feb. 16 at home.  Fourth-year South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler is 2-5 against Troy, and fifth-year Troy head coach Chanda Rigby is 6-4 against South Alabama.  The two schools faced each other as Sun Belt Conference members starting in the 2005-06 season.
 
Troy (7-4) is ended a two-game losing streak, beating Armstrong State 118-72 on Thursday night.  Previously the Trojans dropped games at Tennessee (110-84) on Dec. 21st and UAB (81-77) at home on Dec. 18.  Troy has a 1-3 record on the road, dropping a pair of road games to SEC opponents, Tennessee and Auburn 61-52 in the season-opener, and to Jacksonville 77-70 on Dec. 10th.  The Trojans lone road win came against Nicholls 100-75 on Dec. 14th.  With just three first place votes Troy was selected the preseason favorite by the Sun Belt Conference coaches' poll with 125 points, just four more than Little Rock.
 
 Averaging 89.2 points per game, Troy ranks in the top 10 in scoring in the NCAA.  Five players are averaging more than eight points per game while no player is averaging more than 24.0 minutes per game.  Troy leads the Sun Belt in 11 team statistical categories.  The Trojans have had the edge on the boards in their first 11 games of the season averaging 50.2 rebounds per contest, which ranks 2nd in the NCAA.
 
Senior guard Claresa Banks is 2nd in the Sun Belt and 25th in the NCAA shooting 89.3 percent from the FT line. As a team, the Trojans are shooting 76.2 percent, which ranks 32nd nationally.  Senior guard Jayla Chills is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game and also averages 6.5 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game.  Senior forward Caitlyn Ramirez leads the team in rebounds (7.7 rpg) and also has scored 9.0 ppg.
 
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).