South Alabama grabbed a season-high 50 rebounds and scored 27 second-chance points to beat Louisiana-Monroe 61-51 in women’s basketball on Wednesday, bouncing back from a 67-47 loss to North Texas on Saturday.
The win improved the Lady Jaguars to 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. Louisiana-Monroe fell to 3-14 overall and 1-7 in league play.
El Leads the Way
Mansa El scored a game-high 16 points, going 4-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 at the free-throw line. She recorded her fourth double-double in the last five games.
Meghan Dunn scored 12 points off the bench, making 4 of 8 3-point attempts. Brianna Wright added eight points and six rebounds. South Alabama’s reserves outscored Louisiana-Monroe’s bench 23-9.
Pietri Unhappy With Start
South Alabama coach Rick Pietri said his team’s defense was slow to get going.
“I was really disappointed in how we started the game,” Pietri said. “We got a basket right out of the box and I thought that would catapult us, but our defensive energy wasn’t where it needed to be.”
Pietri credited Louisiana-Monroe for its energy early and said his team defended well over the final 30 minutes.
“In the second half, we defended the way our teams defend, and we held them to 29% in the second half,” he said. “So we take the win and move on.”
Roster Notes
Mary Nixon left the game in the first half with a concussion after her head struck the floor. She will be evaluated this week and must be cleared before returning fully to practice and games.
Redshirt freshman Rachel Cumbo dressed for the first time in her college career. Cumbo missed the entire 2011-12 season and the first 17 games of this season after two knee injuries.
Up Next
After a week off, South Alabama hosts Western Kentucky on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in a Sun Belt Eastern Division game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
