Thursday, February 11
Troy, AL
6:15 p.m.
Georgia Southern University
at
Troy
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
WBB Preview: Eagle Women Travel to Troy for Thursday Game
2/10/2016 1:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Georgia Southern and Troy set to tip off at 6:15 p.m. Eastern standard time
Georgia Southern (7-14, 4-8) at Troy (10-11, 5-7)
Thursday, Feb. 11 – Trojan Arena (5,200) – 6:15 p.m. EST
Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio
Radio: 91.9 FM the Buzz
Series: GSU trails 7-2, L6
In Troy: TU leads 3-0
Last Meeting: 1/9/16 - L, 81-66 (Statesboro, Ga.)
Probable Starters for Georgia Southern (Based on previous games):
#2 Trellanie English-Lurry, G
#11 Angel McGowan, G
#23 Alexis Sams, G
#25 Sierra Butler, F
#35 Patrice Butler, C
Georgia Southern Information:
[Roster] [Schedule] [Season Stats] [@GSAthletics_WBB] [Game Notes (PDF)]
Troy Information:
[Roster] [Schedule] [Season Stats] [@TroyTrojansWBB]
INSIDE THE CONFERENCE STANDINGS
• Entering this week's games, the last eight teams in the conference standings are in heavy competition for the final five spots in the Sun Belt Conference tournament and it seems like anything could happen from second on down.
• The top eight spots in the standings are important because only the top eight teams in the final conference standings go to the conference tournament held in New Orleans, La. in March.
• UT Arlington has moved up into fourth after handing Texas State its fourth-straight loss Tuesday night. Arlington boasts a 6-6 conference record.
• Just behind the Mavericks, Troy, Texas State, South Alabama and Appalachian State are all tied for sixth with identical 5-7 records.
• Georgia State and Georgia Southern are tied for ninth with matching 4-8 league marks while UL Monroe is 11th with a 3-9 SBC record.
WITHIN THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
• As a team, Georgia Southern is currently sixth in the Sun Belt Conference for free throw percentage (.691), field goal percentage (.391), three-point field goal percentage (.304) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.311).
• The Eagles are also fourth in the league with an average of 24.6 defensive rebounds per game and are third with 6.3 three-pointers per outing.
• Angel McGowan continues to remain in the top-10 of the conference in multiple offensive categories highlighted by sitting fifth in the league with 15.5 points per game. She is also third in three-pointers made (2.1 per game), seventh in steals (2.0 per game), tied for seventh in minutes played (31.9 per game), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.359) and ninth in free throw percentage (.733).
• Patrice Butler also remains near the top in multiple statistical categories including sixth in free throw percentage (.754), tied for 11th in scoring (12.1 points per game), 13th in rebounding (5.6 per game) and 14th in the Sun Belt in defensive rebounds per game (3.8).
• Alexis Sams is second in the league in minutes played (35.9 per outing) and is also 15th in assists (2.6 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.311) while Sierra Butler is tied for 18th in the conference with 5.0 rebounds per game and is also 15th with 2.0 offensive boards per game.
QUICK HITTERS
• In Saturday's 78-64 victory over Texas State, the Georgia Southern women set six team season highs including points scored (78), field goals made (26), field goal percentage (.520), free throw attempts (24), rebounds (43) and assists (18).
• Also in the game with the Bobcats, the Eagles held their opponents to just five free throw attempts and 23 rebounds, the fewest of either for any opponent this season against the Eagles.
• When Sierra Kirkland next takes the court for the Eagles, she will tie seven other former Eagles for 15th in program history with 113 games played. If Kirkland is able to play in every game for the rest of the regular season (eight guaranteed games), then she will be tied with Ashley Melson (2005-09) for second all-time in games played. If the Eagles can advance to the Sun Belt Conference tournament, and if Kirkland then plays in that game, she will tie Jessica Geiger (2006-10) for most games played in program history with 121.
• When senior Briana Jones swatted a ball away in the Eagles' 78-64 win over Texas State last Saturday, she moved to within one block of Trina Roberts (1980-84) for third all-time in program history.
• Junior Angel McGowan is just four steals away from 20th all-time in program history, currently held by Andrea Autrey (1991-95, 134). She is also seven away from 19th all-time (Ashley Rivens, 2005-09) and eight steals away from the two-way tie for 17th (Rosie Arnold, 1995-99 and Gwenda Smith, 1991-93).
• McGowan is also just three points away from eclipsing the 900 point total for her career. In her 80 career games, McGowan averages 11.2 points per contest.
• In Saturday's 78-64 win over Texas State, Patrice Butler scored 23 points, allowing her to eclipse the 700 point total for her entire collegiate career, including her time at Furman. Butler now has 715 career points and has played 72 collegiate games for an average of 9.9 points per game. She also has 337 total rebounds between Furman and Southern for an average of 4.7 boards per outing.
• Also in Saturday's win over the Bobcats, Alexis Sams drained three free throws, giving her 402 career points, an average of 5.0 points per game over her 80 career games.
THE HISTORY WITH TROY
• After the meeting on Jan. 9 between Troy and Southern, the Eagles are 2-7 all-time against the Trojans.
• Troy is 3-0 all-time at home against Southern and is currently on a six-game winning streak over Georgia Southern including the 81-66 Trojan victory inside Hanner Fieldhouse.
• In the Jan. 9 meeting between the two, both sides had three players finish the game in double-digit scoring led by Ashley Beverly Kelley and Angel McGowan's 23 points each. McGowan was slightly more efficient as she went 8-for-14 (.571) from the field compared to Beverly Kelley's 8-for-16 (.500) from the field and each finished with identical 4-for-9 (.444) shooting from three-point range. McGowan finished with seven rebounds, four assists, four turnover and two steals in 33 minutes of work while Beverly Kelley had three boards, five assists, one steal and no turnovers.
• Behind the combined 46 points from McGowan and Beverly Kelley, the Butler sisters, Sierra and Patrice, each finished with 13 points for Georgia Southern while Caitlyn Ramirez and Kristen Emerson finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
• This season, the Trojans (10-11, 5-7) are 6-3 at home overall, but just 3-3 at home in conference play and have lost six games in a row dating back to the middle of January after going on a run of five straight wins to start the new year.
• Despite the six game skid, Troy boasts one of the conference's most potent offenses, averaging 82.3 points per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 73.3% from the free throw line. The Trojans' 82.3 points per outing has them atop the Sun Belt Conference in that statistical category while their field goal and free throw percentages are good enough for second in the league in both areas.
• As a team, Troy is also tops in the Sun Belt in steals (11.0 per game) and offensive rebounds (15.2 per outing) and the Trojans are second in the conference in assists (14.5) and three-point field goals made (7.2).
• Despite having a high-scoring offense, Troy is struggling on defense, allowing teams to score a league-worst 79.0 points per game. That is amplified by opposing offenses hitting on 44.9% of their attempts from the field against the Trojans, also worst in the conference.
• The Trojans are led by the league's top scorer, Ashley Beverly Kelley who averages 19.8 points per game heading into the week.
• Beverly Kelley is also in the top-15 of the league in seven other statistical categories. Those include first in free throw percentage (.860), second in steals (2.6), fourth in assists (3.5), ninth in three-point field goals made (1.6), 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.311) and overall field goal percentage (.443).
• Behind Beverly Kelley, Caitlyn Ramirez and ArJae' Saunders are both in top-30 in scoring for the conference. Ramirez is ninth in the league with 12.4 points per contest while Saunders is 22nd with 9.8 points.
• Ramirez is also second in field goal percentage (.548) and 11th in rebounding (6.3) while Saunders is seventh in free throw percentage (.746).
• Amanda Mendoza currently leads the league with a .432 three-point field goal percentage and is 12th with 1.5 treys per game. She is also 14th in the league in assists (2.7).
NEXT UP
• After Thursday's game in Troy, the Eagles will play at South Alabama in Mobile on Saturday. Saturday's game against the Jaguars will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 and is slated to tip off at 3 p.m. Eastern standard time.
SEASON TICKETS
• Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GSEagles.com/tickets. Season ticket options are available for both general admission and reserved seating. Fans can enjoy chair-back seats in the reserved sections for $90 a season ticket for either men's or women's basketball. Alternatively, general admission season tickets are $65 and are located behind the baskets on bleachers. A combo package is also available for $120 and includes both men's and women's basketball contests.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.
Thursday, Feb. 11 – Trojan Arena (5,200) – 6:15 p.m. EST
Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio
Radio: 91.9 FM the Buzz
Series: GSU trails 7-2, L6
In Troy: TU leads 3-0
Last Meeting: 1/9/16 - L, 81-66 (Statesboro, Ga.)
Probable Starters for Georgia Southern (Based on previous games):
#2 Trellanie English-Lurry, G
#11 Angel McGowan, G
#23 Alexis Sams, G
#25 Sierra Butler, F
#35 Patrice Butler, C
Georgia Southern Information:
[Roster] [Schedule] [Season Stats] [@GSAthletics_WBB] [Game Notes (PDF)]
Troy Information:
[Roster] [Schedule] [Season Stats] [@TroyTrojansWBB]
INSIDE THE CONFERENCE STANDINGS
• Entering this week's games, the last eight teams in the conference standings are in heavy competition for the final five spots in the Sun Belt Conference tournament and it seems like anything could happen from second on down.
• The top eight spots in the standings are important because only the top eight teams in the final conference standings go to the conference tournament held in New Orleans, La. in March.
• UT Arlington has moved up into fourth after handing Texas State its fourth-straight loss Tuesday night. Arlington boasts a 6-6 conference record.
• Just behind the Mavericks, Troy, Texas State, South Alabama and Appalachian State are all tied for sixth with identical 5-7 records.
• Georgia State and Georgia Southern are tied for ninth with matching 4-8 league marks while UL Monroe is 11th with a 3-9 SBC record.
WITHIN THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
• As a team, Georgia Southern is currently sixth in the Sun Belt Conference for free throw percentage (.691), field goal percentage (.391), three-point field goal percentage (.304) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.311).
• The Eagles are also fourth in the league with an average of 24.6 defensive rebounds per game and are third with 6.3 three-pointers per outing.
• Angel McGowan continues to remain in the top-10 of the conference in multiple offensive categories highlighted by sitting fifth in the league with 15.5 points per game. She is also third in three-pointers made (2.1 per game), seventh in steals (2.0 per game), tied for seventh in minutes played (31.9 per game), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.359) and ninth in free throw percentage (.733).
• Patrice Butler also remains near the top in multiple statistical categories including sixth in free throw percentage (.754), tied for 11th in scoring (12.1 points per game), 13th in rebounding (5.6 per game) and 14th in the Sun Belt in defensive rebounds per game (3.8).
• Alexis Sams is second in the league in minutes played (35.9 per outing) and is also 15th in assists (2.6 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.311) while Sierra Butler is tied for 18th in the conference with 5.0 rebounds per game and is also 15th with 2.0 offensive boards per game.
QUICK HITTERS
• In Saturday's 78-64 victory over Texas State, the Georgia Southern women set six team season highs including points scored (78), field goals made (26), field goal percentage (.520), free throw attempts (24), rebounds (43) and assists (18).
• Also in the game with the Bobcats, the Eagles held their opponents to just five free throw attempts and 23 rebounds, the fewest of either for any opponent this season against the Eagles.
• When Sierra Kirkland next takes the court for the Eagles, she will tie seven other former Eagles for 15th in program history with 113 games played. If Kirkland is able to play in every game for the rest of the regular season (eight guaranteed games), then she will be tied with Ashley Melson (2005-09) for second all-time in games played. If the Eagles can advance to the Sun Belt Conference tournament, and if Kirkland then plays in that game, she will tie Jessica Geiger (2006-10) for most games played in program history with 121.
• When senior Briana Jones swatted a ball away in the Eagles' 78-64 win over Texas State last Saturday, she moved to within one block of Trina Roberts (1980-84) for third all-time in program history.
• Junior Angel McGowan is just four steals away from 20th all-time in program history, currently held by Andrea Autrey (1991-95, 134). She is also seven away from 19th all-time (Ashley Rivens, 2005-09) and eight steals away from the two-way tie for 17th (Rosie Arnold, 1995-99 and Gwenda Smith, 1991-93).
• McGowan is also just three points away from eclipsing the 900 point total for her career. In her 80 career games, McGowan averages 11.2 points per contest.
• In Saturday's 78-64 win over Texas State, Patrice Butler scored 23 points, allowing her to eclipse the 700 point total for her entire collegiate career, including her time at Furman. Butler now has 715 career points and has played 72 collegiate games for an average of 9.9 points per game. She also has 337 total rebounds between Furman and Southern for an average of 4.7 boards per outing.
• Also in Saturday's win over the Bobcats, Alexis Sams drained three free throws, giving her 402 career points, an average of 5.0 points per game over her 80 career games.
THE HISTORY WITH TROY
• After the meeting on Jan. 9 between Troy and Southern, the Eagles are 2-7 all-time against the Trojans.
• Troy is 3-0 all-time at home against Southern and is currently on a six-game winning streak over Georgia Southern including the 81-66 Trojan victory inside Hanner Fieldhouse.
• In the Jan. 9 meeting between the two, both sides had three players finish the game in double-digit scoring led by Ashley Beverly Kelley and Angel McGowan's 23 points each. McGowan was slightly more efficient as she went 8-for-14 (.571) from the field compared to Beverly Kelley's 8-for-16 (.500) from the field and each finished with identical 4-for-9 (.444) shooting from three-point range. McGowan finished with seven rebounds, four assists, four turnover and two steals in 33 minutes of work while Beverly Kelley had three boards, five assists, one steal and no turnovers.
• Behind the combined 46 points from McGowan and Beverly Kelley, the Butler sisters, Sierra and Patrice, each finished with 13 points for Georgia Southern while Caitlyn Ramirez and Kristen Emerson finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
• This season, the Trojans (10-11, 5-7) are 6-3 at home overall, but just 3-3 at home in conference play and have lost six games in a row dating back to the middle of January after going on a run of five straight wins to start the new year.
• Despite the six game skid, Troy boasts one of the conference's most potent offenses, averaging 82.3 points per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 73.3% from the free throw line. The Trojans' 82.3 points per outing has them atop the Sun Belt Conference in that statistical category while their field goal and free throw percentages are good enough for second in the league in both areas.
• As a team, Troy is also tops in the Sun Belt in steals (11.0 per game) and offensive rebounds (15.2 per outing) and the Trojans are second in the conference in assists (14.5) and three-point field goals made (7.2).
• Despite having a high-scoring offense, Troy is struggling on defense, allowing teams to score a league-worst 79.0 points per game. That is amplified by opposing offenses hitting on 44.9% of their attempts from the field against the Trojans, also worst in the conference.
• The Trojans are led by the league's top scorer, Ashley Beverly Kelley who averages 19.8 points per game heading into the week.
• Beverly Kelley is also in the top-15 of the league in seven other statistical categories. Those include first in free throw percentage (.860), second in steals (2.6), fourth in assists (3.5), ninth in three-point field goals made (1.6), 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.311) and overall field goal percentage (.443).
• Behind Beverly Kelley, Caitlyn Ramirez and ArJae' Saunders are both in top-30 in scoring for the conference. Ramirez is ninth in the league with 12.4 points per contest while Saunders is 22nd with 9.8 points.
• Ramirez is also second in field goal percentage (.548) and 11th in rebounding (6.3) while Saunders is seventh in free throw percentage (.746).
• Amanda Mendoza currently leads the league with a .432 three-point field goal percentage and is 12th with 1.5 treys per game. She is also 14th in the league in assists (2.7).
NEXT UP
• After Thursday's game in Troy, the Eagles will play at South Alabama in Mobile on Saturday. Saturday's game against the Jaguars will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 and is slated to tip off at 3 p.m. Eastern standard time.
SEASON TICKETS
• Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GSEagles.com/tickets. Season ticket options are available for both general admission and reserved seating. Fans can enjoy chair-back seats in the reserved sections for $90 a season ticket for either men's or women's basketball. Alternatively, general admission season tickets are $65 and are located behind the baskets on bleachers. A combo package is also available for $120 and includes both men's and women's basketball contests.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.
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