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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team is just a few days into its first week of fall practice and Lady Jag head coach Rick Pietri is pleased with the way practice has gone to this point.

USA opened fall camp with a two-plus hour session on Monday and returned for another two-and-a-half hour session on Tuesday before giving the team an off day on Wednesday.  The Jaguar women are scheduled to return to the floor on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Even though the Jaguars have been on the floor for just two practices, Pietri – who is entering his 13th season at his alma mater – has liked what he as seen thus far.

“I think our first two practices have been good,” Pietri said.  “It appears that from top to bottom this group is in good shape from a conditioning standpoint.  I believe for the first time since I have been here, we were able to go five-on-five in our closing segments the other day.  We’ve shown some promise in terms of things that we could be capable of doing on the offensive end of the floor.  We haven’t even talked about defense yet as a team, but we’ll do that towards the end of the week.  I do like what I’ve seen from both the veterans and newcomers and after two days of practice, I’m encouraged, but of course there’s a long way to go.”

Pietri also noted that a few players both returners and newcomers that have stood out to him over the first couple of days.

 “I think that in terms relative to where they were from last season to now from an offensive standpoint there are a few players that have stood out,” Pietri said.  “Breanna Hall has showed a lot of progress offensively.  Veronica Cherizol has also done some nice things for us offensively during the first two days.  Ronneka Robertson has also shown a lot of improvement from last season.  From a newcomer standpoint, Brianna Wright has shown that she has the abilities in the post to make a positive difference for us this year.”  

“Certainly players like Mansa El, Mary Nixon and Camille Reynolds have continued to show what they are capable of, but you also look for improvement from those players, because you know you are going to need it.  The things that I’ve seen from those players that I’ve mentioned have been encouraging. The nice thing for us is that we have a lot of newcomers who have had some good moments early on as they are just learning the system.  As they continue to learn the system, they have the opportunity to shine even more.”

With just two full practices under their belts, the total progress of the newcomers as it relates to grasping the new offensive concepts is difficult to accurately judge.  However, Pietri believes the group has plenty of time to work its way into the system.
 
“We’re only on day two, so it’s hard to judge how they have picked up the system completely, but I feel that some of them are having similar growing pains that others have had in the past, and some of them have already shown the ability to have a higher level of aptitude to start with,” Peitri stated.  “I think as far as grasping the concepts of the new offense, it’s a mixed bag, but that’s to be expected.  That’s not something that deters me or shocks me at all.  Learning takes time and the nice thing about our structure is that we have more time than we would, if we were starting in the middle of October as used to have to do.”

The Lady Jags will continue their preparations over the next several weeks for both the exhibition game at the Mitchell Center against West Florida on Nov. 5 and its season-opener at Houston Baptist on Nov. 9.

 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).

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