MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will tip-off the upcoming season Sunday afternoon when it welcomes West Florida to the Mitchell Center for an exhibition contest.  The game between the Jags and the Argonauts is scheduled to begin at 2:05 p.m.

Live stats and the web cast of the game can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.  Fans can view the games live via the web by subscribing to Jaguar Nation for either $7.95 a month or by purchasing an annual subscription for $69.95.

South Alabama comes into the 2009-10 campaign returning nine letterwinners and 10 players from last season's squad which finished with 21 wins and advanced to the semifinal round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament.  The 20-win season was the seventh in the program's history and the first back-to-back 20-win season in 21 years.

Highlighting the list of returnees for the Jags is all-conference performer Shakira Nettles.  As a junior, Nettles recorded 14.0 ppg - second on the club and 11th in the league - and shot 38.5 percent from the three-point line.  Her 69 three-pointers were also the third-most in a single season at USA.  Last month, Nettles was named first team preseason all-SBC.  The Mobile native scored double figures in 24 games for the Jags a season ago, while leading the team in that category 15 times.  Nettles also ranked among the conference leaders in three-point percentage (seventh) and three-pointers made per game (sixth). 

USA will have to replace two key players from last season's roster, as the Jags lost second team all-conference performer and leading scorer Jessica Starling and post player Ra'Shawna Sippio - who led the team with 8.4 rebounds per game - to graduation. 

Two possible candidates to step into those roles entering the season are senior center Shaniece Brunner and junior forward Christian Shelter.  Brunner returns to the Jags after receiving an extra year after being granted a medical hardship.  The Thomasville, Ga., native averaged 6.2 rebounds per outing in 2009 (18th in the SBC), while also posting 1.5 blocks (fourth in the SBC).  Shelter sat out last year after transferring back to her hometown from the University of New Mexico.  The Mobile native had a stellar prep career at Faith Academy, where she left as the school's record-holder in career points (2,104), rebounds (1,000) and blocked shots (251).  As a senior, she averaged 21 points and nine rebounds per game.  She was also a two-time finalist for Miss Basketball in the State of Alabama.

USA also welcomes back a pair of starters - Siedah Banks and Brittney Rutledge - who had their seasons cut short due to injury.  Both Banks and Rutledge had off-season surgery to repair an ACL injury, but the duo has both been back at nearly full speed this fall.  Prior to going down with the injury, Banks had proven to be one of the top point guards in the Sun Belt ranking second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio at 1.88 and fifth in assists, averaging 4.00 dishes per contest.  Banks also ranked 27th nationally in assists/turnover ratio and Rutledge had started five games and averaged 7.4 ppg during that stretch.

The injuries allowed the Jags to add depth at the point guard position as Morriah Smith took over Banks' role, starting the final 16 games of the season.  After moving into the starting spot, the Chicago, Ill., native recorded five of her six double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 14 points against Louisiana-Monroe.  Sarda Peterson also saw her time on the court increase.  Going into the season, South Alabama should have three very experienced players at the point position.

Sophomores Tashley Gaines, Cylenthia Kennon and Lauren Walker round out the list of returnees for the Jags, while USA also welcomes junior college transfer Vannessa Simmons and true freshmen Veronica Cherizol and Bobbi Taylor.  As a sophomore at Seward County (Kan.) Community College, Simmons averaged 8.3 points and pulled down 5.9 boards per outing.  Cherizol and Taylor both had solid high school careers.  Cherizol - a 6-2 post player - averaged 11 points, 12 rebounds per game as a senior at North Miami Beach High School, while Taylor averaged 18.6 ppg and 11.5 rpg as a senior at Harker Heights High School in Killeen, Texas.

The Argonauts come into the exhibition contest versus the Jags returning nine letterwinners - including all five starters - from last year's squad.  UWF finished the 2008-09 campaign with an 8-19 record, but 10 of those losses were decided by four points or less, including five which went into overtime.

Along with the nine returnees, UWF also welcomes back senior post player Jessie Ivey, who missed last season with a knee injury.  Ivey is one of eight seniors on the Argo roster.

"This is a cohesive group that we are going to be facing on Sunday.  They have played and been together for awhile," South Alabama coach Rick Pietri said.  "Last year they lost a lot of close games, and while their record wasn't outstanding, I'm sure with all the players back, they expect to win a lot of those close games.  We will definitely have to be ready for the challenge that we are going to face." 

Amy Drake was one of three players to average double figures a season ago for West Florida.  The Niceville, Fla., native led the team with 14.0 points per outing in 34.5 minutes of action.  She was also named second team all-Gulf South Conference. 

Fellow seniors Tiffany Williams (12.9 ppg) and Jessica Young (11.9 ppg) also posted double-digits for the Argonauts. Williams had six 20-plus point performances as a junior, while Young averaged a double-double with 10.6 rebounds per game - 16th in NCAA-II.  Both Drake and Williams were selected to the preseason all-GSC team earlier this month.

West Florida's roster also features six newcomers this season highlighted by Ashley Jade Howard - a transfer from Berea College.  At Berea, Howard averaged 17.9 ppg and shot 35 percent from beyond the arc.

One player on UWF's roster will be returning to a familiar environment on Sunday.  Jamie Freeman, a 5-10 senior forward, lettered three seasons at LeFlore High School where she was named all-county and all-region in both her junior and senior seasons

Shannan Bergen enters her 11th season at the helm at West Florida. She has twice been named GSC East Division Coach of the Year and has led UWF to six GSC Tournament appearances during her time there.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTES:  South Alabama holds a dominant advantage in the all-time series.  USA and UWF have met seven times during the regular season, with the Jags taking all of those previous meetings.  South Alabama has also won each of the last seven exhibition meetings under Pietri, including an 82-52 decision in Mobile last season.  In his previous nine seasons, Pietri is a perfect 9-0 in exhibition games.

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