Baseball briefs

* Buck Martinez was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jaysafter spending the last 14 seasons analyzing the team's performanceon television. Martinez, a catcher for the Blue Jays from 1981-86,has been the team's color commentator since 1987. Martinez is thelatest to go directly from a team's broadcast booth to the dugout.Larry Dierker won three division titles since being hired inHouston, and Arizona hired analyst Bob Brenly last month to replaceBuck Showalter. Dierker and Brenly also had no managing experiencebefore being hired.

Martinez takes over a team that went 83-79, finishing third inthe AL East in 2000. The Blue Jays nucleus of Carlos Delgado, TonyBatista, Raul …

Ducks Bounce Back With Victory Over Wild

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Coming off their first regulation loss of the season, the Anaheim Ducks showed they're resilient.

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who made 24 saves in Anaheim's 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Sunday night, was pleased to see the Ducks quickly get back to earning points.

"Good teams find ways to bounce back," Giguere said. "Obviously you can't win them all and you can't be successful all the time. But when you're not, it's important to come back the next game and play hard.

"It was important to start this homestand on the right foot and we responded very well."

The Ducks' season-opening run of 16 games without a defeat in regulation ended …

UN: staff came under fire in Sri Lanka 'safe zone'

Dozens of U.N. workers and their relatives spent a terrifying night huddling in hastily built bunkers as artillery fire pounded a civilian "safe zone" in Sri Lanka's war-wracked north, according to an internal U.N. memo.

The memo, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, said the artillery shells killed nine civilians in a nearby bunker and were apparently fired by government forces.

The military denied the charge and President Mahinda Rajapaksa renewed the government's pledge not to launch attacks in the refuge as it fought to crush the Tamil Tiger rebels and end the country's 25-year-old civil war.

As concern mounted for the …

Jocks, nerds a style item

NEW YORK Richard Martin is curator of "Jocks and Nerds," a NewYork City fashion exhibit that celebrates and spoofs 20th centurymen.

Mannequins have been transformed into rebels, workers, cowboys,military men, hunters, sportsmen, Joe College, businessmen, men abouttown and dandies, as well as jocks and nerds.

"Someone can be a businessman five days a week, but on Saturdayhe puts on his safari jacket and becomes the Ernest Hemingway ofGreat Neck," said Martin. "At night, he goes to a downtown club andbecomes a rebel."

Or perhaps a jock - depicted in photographs of SylvesterStallone as "Rocky," a reclining Jim Palmer pitching Jockeyunderwear, and a comic …

Ligand Detection and Discrimination by Spatial Relocalization: A Kinase-Phosphatase Segregation Model of TCR Activation

ABSTRACT

We develop a model of tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the T-cell receptor (TCR) by localization to regions of close membrane-membrane proximity (close contact) that physically exclude tyrosine phosphatases such as CD45. Phosphatase exclusion generates regions of low phosphatase and high kinase activity and thus our model provides a framework to examine the kinetic segregation model of TCR activation. We incorporate a sequence of activation steps modeling the construction of the signalosome with a final sequestered, or high-stability, signaling state. The residence time of unbound TCRs in tyrosine kinase-rich domains is shown to be too short for accumulation of …

Autopsies on 5 brothers found slain in Germany point to suffocation

Autopsy results point to suffocation as the likely cause of death for five brothers believed to have been slain by their mentally disturbed mother, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Autopsy results indicated the boys had been given sleeping pills and then suffocated, said Uwe Wick, a prosecutor in the northern port city of Kiel. Their 31-year-old mother, who has not been identified, is suspected of killing them, he said.

"We have charged her with five counts of murder, but in an instance of complete lack of full mental capacities," Wick said, meaning that she could not be held responsible for her actions.

He said the woman has been committed …

News in Brief

CAR CRASHES INTO BUILDING

A 19-year-old woman is facing multiple misdemeanor charges in a crash that injured six people early Friday on the Northwest Side. Chicago Police said Glynis Jones, of the 1700 block of North McVicker, was in the front passenger seat of a car when she got into an argument with the driver and grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to crash into a building at 4041 W. North Ave. Jones is charged with five counts of simple battery and one count each of reckless conduct and criminal damage to property, police said. …

RECOGNIZING CURRENT STANDARDS

Tony Passwater's comments in his April column regarding certification hit on a number of valid points. However, his claim that the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) isn't a true certification process wasn't one of them. ASE easily meets any reasonable criteria for "true certification," including the criteria established within the column for a bona fide certification program. That shouldn't be surprising, since ASE was created by the industry specifically to develop technical knowledge standards and has been guided in this ongoing process by its partners ETS and ACT, the two largest testing companies in the world.

The process ASE uses is widely recognized …

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Washington Mutual opens 20 more branches in area Bank's 112 locations here now rival LaSalle's number

Washington Mutual Bank opened another 20 branches Thursday, for atotal of 112 branches opened in the Chicago area since the Seattlebank blew into town last summer.

In what is probably the most aggressive expansion in Chicago byone bank in a year's time, Washington Mutual now rivals the size ofLaSalle Bank by number of bank branches, according to research firmSNL Financial. By year-end, it will close in on Harris Bank, whichhas the third-largest number of branches in the Chicago area, behindBank One and TCF Bank.

It will open 13 branches in the city and the rest in suburbsincluding Calumet Park, Naperville and Romeoville.

But lots of new bank branches don't …

It's Urban, It's Real, But Is This Literature?

Controversy rages over a new genre whose sales are headed off the charts. By Malcolm Venable

With additional reporting by Tayannah McQuillar and Yvette Mingo

These days, it seems that nearly every black-owned bookstore and every street vendor's table-from 125th Street in Harlem to Jacksonville, Florida, to Chicago, and to Oakland, California, and back-is spilling over with titles in a new genre dubbed by some as urban fiction, by others as hip-hop fiction. These books are generally geared to younger audiences influenced more by TV, music videos and hip-hop culture than their Civil Rights Era-raised, Black Arts , Movement-nurtured, Toni Morrison-worshipping …

How cities compare in payouts on claims vs. police

New York City has paid out $964 million over a decade to resolve claims against the nation's largest police department. A look at how the city's spending compares with that of some other large police forces:

NEW YORK:

— Average annual payout on claims against police (rounded): $96.4 million.

— Police officers: 35,761

— Average annual payout per officer: $2,695

CHICAGO:

— Average annual payout on claims against police (rounded): $39.1 million

— Police officers: 13,359

— Average annual payout per officer: $2,929

LOS ANGELES:

— Average annual payout on claims against police (rounded): $21.4 million

— Police …

Australian police arrest 4 protesters during pro-Tibet rally

Pro-Tibet protesters clashed with police Saturday outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney, Australia's largest city, police said.

Four demonstrators were arrested in the melee, said a police spokesman, who declined to give his name in line with departmental policy. No injuries or damage to the consulate were reported.

The spokesman said one demonstrator had been charged with assaulting police with a wooden pole and one remained in custody while police mulled charges. Two others were released without charge, he said.

Police said around 70 people took part in the protest in Sydney, which followed demonstrations and riots Friday in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, that reportedly left at least 10 people dead.

Australian Associated Press reported officers used batons and capsicum spray against the protesters. The police spokesman denied any batons were used, but declined comment on the alleged use of capsicum spray.

Nine Network television broadcast an unnamed woman protester saying police had been "very rough" in their response to the 30-minute protest.

AAP said the protest by members of Sydney's ethnic Tibetan community and others turned violent after 40 demonstrators surrounded two police officers sent to watch the demonstration.

Separately, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith urged China to show restraint in Tibet.

"We call on Chinese authorities to act with restraint and to deal with protesters peacefully," Smith said in a statement. "We urge the Chinese government to allow peaceful expression of dissent."

NY man accused in plane door scare free on bail

A New York man accused of trying to open a plane door mid-flight has been freed on bail and ordered not to fly.

Thirty-three-year-old Gregory Thomas Burns appeared in federal court in Denver Friday afternoon and was released on $10,000 bail. He's accused of trying to open a plane's exterior door last Saturday during a flight from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas. The United Airlines jetliner was diverted to Denver International Airport.

Burns, from Sydney Center, N.Y., says he thought he was on the wrong airplane and that it was grounded when he tried to open the door. Investigators say he'd had several drinks.

Burns is to undergo mental health evaluations as part of his bail conditions. He faces charges of interference with a flight crew and is due in court again Feb. 17.

Celtics hold off furious Lakers' comeback

Kobe Bryant couldn't take it anymore, so he took it out on his teammates.

With Game 2, and perhaps Los Angeles' season slipping away, the league's MVP looked around the huddle and used some harsh words to fire up the Lakers.

They responded, dug deep and made a remarkable comeback that fell short. Now they have to make a bigger one.

Trailing Boston by 24 points with less than 8 minutes left, the Lakers got within two before losing 108-102 on Sunday night to the Boston Celtics, who are heading out West feeling a little lucky to have a 2-0 lead in the NBA finals.

Only three teams _ Boston in 1969, Portland in 1977 and Miami in 2006 _ have overcome an 0-2 deficit to win the title. With the next three games on their home floor, where they haven't lost since March 28, Bryant thinks the Lakers can become No. 4.

"We've come too far to really sweat being down 2-0," said Bryant, who scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. "We're going to go home and handle our business."

That's what the Celtics did _ barely.

Paul Pierce darted around the parquet floor with ease to score 28 points and unknown Leon Powe added 21 as the Celtics held serve at home in these trip-down-memory-lane finals. But coasting to a blowout win, the Celtics nearly blew up.

"We're happy because we won, but we definitely learned a lesson," Pierce said.

The Lakers trailed 95-71 with 7:55 remaining but used a 31-9 run to pull to 104-102 on two free throws by Bryant with 38.4 seconds left. Pierce, though, made two free throws, then blocked a 3-pointer by Sasha Vujacic, and James Posey made two free throws with 12.6 seconds left to ice it for Boston, which improved to 12-1 at home in the postseason.

"We've got to play through the game for 48 minutes, and I didn't think we did that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought we got cute when we got the lead."

The Lakers, who dropped 41 points on the league's defensive team in the final 12 minutes, simply ran out of time.

During a timeout in the fourth quarter, Bryant, who has struggled against the Celtics all season, tore into the Lakers with a few well-chosen words that would have never gotten past the network TV censors.

So, what did he say?

"Get our beep in gear," he said, sounding as if he was dictating in Morse code. "Play beep harder, a bunch of other beeps. It's beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. 'Eddie Murphy Raw' times 10."

Beyond Bryant's tirade, the Lakers were also peeved about a huge disparity at the free-throw line. Boston attempted 38 free throws to just 10 for Los Angeles.

Known to whistle at his players, Lakers coach Phil Jackson felt the tweeting sounds he heard out of the officials were too one-sided.

"I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached in the finals," said Jackson, who is going for his 10th title in 11 finals appearances. "Unbelievable."

Pierce wasn't slowed by a sprained right knee suffered in the series opener, when he was carried from the court and plopped into a wheelchair. The Boston captain paced the Celtics, who are back in the finals for the first since 1987, when Larry Bird was the main man and gasoline cost 91 cents per gallon.

As usual, Boston's Big Three _ Pierce, Ray Allen (17 points) and Kevin Garnett (17) _ were the ringleaders but Powe, a second-year reserve had the game of his career, adding his 21 points in 15 minutes that may make him a Celtics fan-favorite for life.

Powe, who played a total of 68 seconds during one stretch of 13 games during the season, scored six points to close a 15-2 run ending the third quarter that gave the Celtics a 22-point lead. The quick burst had the Lakers California dreaming. At one point in the fourth quarter, Boston fans discarded the familiar chants of "Beat L.A." for cries of "Le-on Powe!"

"He was terrific," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

Rajon Rondo had a career-high 16 assists and Garnett added 14 rebounds for the Celtics, back in the finals for the first time since 1987.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were so far down in the fourth that many of their purple-and-gold clad fans who came to cheer them on, headed toward the exits and maybe to Logan Airport for the trip out West.

But Bryant brought them back _ almost all the way.

His 3-pointer made it 102-91 and then the self-proclaimed "Black Mamba" slithered down the lane for two quick baskets that got the Lakers within 104-95. The Celtics, meanwhile, began to stand around on offense, thinking the game was in hand.

It was anything but.

After Vujacic hit a 3-pointer, Vladimir Radmanovic made a steal and dunk to make it 104-100 and Celtics fans, who had been dancing moments earlier, began to panic. None of Boston's players seemed to want the ball as it moved around like a hot potato before Rondo missed a jumper with 44 seconds left.

Bryant's free throws brought Los Angeles to 104-102 before Pierce slashed down the lane and got fouled by Derek Fisher. As a few of his teammates locked arms on the bench like a college team trying to advance in March, Pierce knocked down both foul shots. Then, on defense, he got just enough of Vujacic's shot from the left wing with 14 seconds left.

Posey was fouled on the play and calmly made his two free throws. The Lakers rushed the ball down but missed on a couple jumpers, and when the final horn sounded, a collective sigh of relief rushed through the exits as the Celtics and their fans left the building confident, if not shaken.

"We're not settling on a 2-0 lead," Garnett said. "We want to go out there and win two games in L.A."

Notes:@ This is the sixth time in the Lakers-Celtics rivalry that a team has taken a 2-0 lead. ... Celtics G Sam Cassell sprained his right wrist in the second quarter and didn't return. ... The Lakers made seven 3-pointers in the fourth, tying a finals record. ... Jackson, a renowned world traveler who often reviews trips to his destinations, was asked for an overview of his extended stay in Boston, where the weather this week ranged from chilly, October-like conditions to sweltering heat. "It's very green," Jackson deadpanned, drawing laughter at the reference to the Celtics' primary colors. "Boston Commons, the Public Gardens. Very green."

People matter more than cats

Some of us who work in this department have cats whom we dearlylove. But we are not so blinded by our love that we think cats aremore important than people.

That's precisely what an animal-loving lunatic fringe callingitself the Band of Mercy in effect professes to believe when it doesthings such as stealing 28 cats from the Beltsville AgriculturalResearch Center last weekend. The group, in spray-painted scrawlsleft behind, said it was protesting brutal treatment of animals,including the lab cats.

The group failed to provide convincing evidence that these catswere being treated brutally - but never mind about such bows to logicwhen you can run in high gear on emotion alone. The group alsoignored the fact that the cats were being used in research to benefitcats and other animals.

The cats are part of experiments into toxoplasmosis, a diseasetransmitted by a one-celled parasite that infects many of thenation's cats and other animals, such as livestock. In humans, thedisease is not widespread in adults, but pregnant women and peoplewith some cancers and some diseases of the immune system, includingAIDS, are susceptible.

Most at threat, though, are the 3,000 or so infants who are bornevery year with birth defects caused by the disease. The disease,which enlarges and destroys the brain, leads to the death of many ofthese children before 20.

An Agriculture Department official said the thefts have createda situation bordering on terrorism. The fanatics probably willderide the comment as gross overstatement. We, though, consider itunderstatement. The theft is an assault on children who might nothave been born with birth defects had not this research beeninterrupted by zealots.

German manl faces sentencing in US sex assault

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland (AP) — A German man who was extradited to the state of Maryland on a 10-year-old rape charge faces up to 25 years in prison.

Fifty-one-year-old businessman Klaus Von Mahr is scheduled for sentencing Tuesday in Hagerstown.

He pleaded guilty last month to assault for attacking a Hagerstown woman in November 2000. He fled to Germany after she reported the attack, despite having lived in the United States since age 11.

Von Mahr acknowledged he bound, beat and choked the woman in her home. Prosecutors say she agreed to have sex with him because she was afraid. The state dropped a rape charge as part of the plea deal.

Von Mahr was arrested in October in the Czech Republic, and was brought back in March to the U.S.

Jazzy Miz Mozetta

Jazzy Miz Mozetta by Brenda C. Roberts Illustrated by Frank Morrison Farrar, Straus & Giroux, October 2004 $16.50, ISBN 0-374-33674-1 Ages 4-8

The infectious verve of a feisty elderly woman brings her old checker-playing, stoop-sitting friends back to life and opens the eyes of some young friends. A jazzy dance party ensues. Morrison's illustrations are charged with jitterbug energy.

Smoke-shrouded California scrambles to fight wildfires; 500 homes threatened in Big Sur

Hundreds of homes in the scenic community of Big Sur were threatened by a wildfire that already has burned 16 residences and was just 3 percent contained.

About 700 wildfires, many of them sparked by a severe electrical storm over the weekend, burned across much of the state, a point driven home for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he traveled to central California to assess the damage there.

"I just took off with the plane down from Los Angeles and, literally from Los Angeles all the way up here, there was smoke, so you can see that there's fire everywhere," Schwarzenegger noted at a news conference Wednesday in Monterey County.

Firefighters scrambled to tame the lightning-sparked wildfire in the Los Padres National Forest that has burned nearly 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) near the coast about a mile south of Big Sur.

"Unfortunately, this fire is in an area that is going to be very difficult to stop, and expectations are there won't be any stopping this fire any time soon," said Mark Savage, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

The state's largest fire was about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east in a more remote area of the Los Padres forest. It also vexed firefighters, having scorched more than 92 square miles (238 square kilometers) and destroyed two homes. The blaze, sparked by an escaped campfire on June 8, was about 71 percent contained.

Monterey sheriff's officials said mandatory evacuation orders were in place for both fires, but could not specify how many people were forced from their homes. The Monterey County fires have cost $33 million to fight so far.

The governor also stopped Wednesday in Butte County, where 27 lightning-sparked fires covering about 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) were threatening 1,000 homes. The blazes, which were only 5 percent contained, cropped up just as the county was recovering from a fire that charred 74 homes and 36 square miles (93 square kilometers) earlier this month.

Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he allotted $20 million in emergency funds to help Butte County fight fire.

Several blazes also were burning in New Mexico, where a fire in thick trees in the Manzano Mountains prompted officials Wednesday to urge hundreds of people to leave their homes in and near Tajique, about 30 miles (50 kiloemters) southeast of Albuquerque. About four dozen homes in the area burned in a wildfire last month.

The fire grew Wednesday to about 3 square miles (8 square kilometers), up from about half a square mile (1 1/2 square kilometers) earlier in the day. It was about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Sherwood Forest subdivision, and previously forced the evacuation of a summer church camp.

More dry lightning was expected toward the end of the week in California, although forecasters did not expect as severe an electrical storm as last weekend, when nearly 8,000 lightning strikes sparked about 800 fires.

Fire crews have come in from Nevada and Oregon, and Schwarzenegger said he has called in the National Guard to help.

___

Associated Press writer Lisa Leff contributed to this story from San Francisco.

Ronaldinho: Would be a dream to play in 2010 WCup

Ronaldinho says it would be a dream to play in another World Cup and believes he will make Brazil's squad for next year's tournament in South Africa.

Ronaldinho said Sunday he wants to return to the national team to help give the Brazilian people another World Cup title.

"Sometimes I even try to avoid this question because it seems that I'm trying to pressure to be summoned," he said in an interview with Globo TV. "But without a doubt it would be a dream to play in another World Cup. My wish it to go there and bring another trophy to the Brazilian people."

The 29-year-old Ronaldinho hasn't been selected by coach Dunga since World Cup qualifying at the beginning of the year.

The playmaker said he believes a good performance with AC Milan from now until the World Cup begins in June will be key for him to have a chance of playing in football's biggest showcase for the third straight time.

"I have adapted after a year in Italy and things are working well again," Ronaldinho said. "I'm going through a wonderful moment. I'm happy. If I keep doing well and win titles with my club I will have more chances."

Dunga has said Ronaldinho remains in his plans if he plays well before the World Cup.

Ronaldinho had a disappointing performance in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when Brazil was eliminated by France in the quarterfinals. He helped Brazil win the 2002 world title in South Korea and Japan.

Ronaldinho, who also helped Barcelona clinch the 2006 Champions League title, was named the footballer of the decade by World Soccer magazine earlier this month. The result was determined by annual votes taken between 2000 and 2009.

BeileinBall complicated, yet successful

RALEIGH, N.C. - Don't try to find one reason for West Virginia'sstunning start to the basketball season.

There isn't one.

It's more complicated than that, kind of like an opponent tryingto solve the Mountaineers' 1-3-1, area-trapping zone defense.

"We didn't invent it," WVU Coach John Beilein said Sunday.

No, the Mountaineers just play it like they did, as two rankedteams have sorely learned in a five-day span.

The Mountaineers won a regular-season game in an Atlantic CoastConference arena for the first time in 16 years on Sunday,confounding a star-short, 17th-ranked North Carolina State 82-69.

That came on the heels of an impressive Morgantown nudging of No.20 George Washington.

WVU is 10-0.

Only three teams in the Mountaineers' storied hoop history havebeen perfect longer into a season, none since Jerry West's sophomoreyear - a 14-0 opening to 1957-58.

However, the number that really explains the neighborhood in whichBeileinBall is playing in WVU annals is 47.

That's not the shooting percentage.

It's higher than that, .499 to be exact, as Big East Conferenceplay begins Wednesday night at Villanova.

It's been 47 years since West Virginia won back-to-back, regular-season games over ranked teams.

The Mountaineers did it in the 1998 NCAA Tournament (Temple andCincinnati, in Boise, Idaho), but in regular-season play, you have togo back to West's sophomore season again, Dec. 20-21, 1957.

Those Mountaineers upset No. 5 Kentucky, on its home floor, andtop-ranked North Carolina to win the UKIT. Hey, in their previousgame, those 'Eers downed 19th-ranked Richmond, too.

However, that WVU team was No. 8 before that trio of wins - andNo. 1 afterward. Forty-seven years later, the Mountaineers may sneakinto the bottom of the polls today.

Although the Wolfpack (8-3) played Sunday without sidelined All-America candidate Julius Hodge and his 19.2 points per game, hissprained ankle shouldn't diminish the WVU accomplishment.

There are some who watch the 'Pack regularly who say Coach HerbSendek's team isn't that much different without Hodge, whoseselfishness can subtract the team concept.

WVU understands that. It wins with an offensive efficiency that'sas uncommon as its 1-3-1 zone.

The Mountaineers, really, have no go-to guy. Opponents aren'tquite sure whom to stop. In winning Sunday, WVU had five double-figure scorers in a boxscore that was quite typical, except for the10-rebound effort by right-place, right-time Mike Gansey.

Offensively, here's how WVU remains one of the nation's sevenunbeaten Division I teams:

The Mountaineers have played 30 games since Beilein booted shot-seeking Drew Schifino from the team 50 weeks ago. In those 30 games,WVU has had 98 individual double-figure scoring performances - butonly five of 20 points or more (and only two this season).

West Virginia has at least nine 3-pointers in nine of its 10 wins.Factor in the lack of turnovers, and the WVU offensive efficiency isbetter than average. Against the Wolfpack, the Mountaineers, despitelosing the glass game again, had 70 points on field goals in 65possessions.

Defensively, the 1-3-1 has Gansey on top, where he plays long, inaddition to his uncanny nose for the ball. His emergence in a defensehe'd never much seen, much less played, until WVU began its Europeanexhibition tour in August, has sent the long-armed Tyrone Sally to awing.

What that means, Sally said, is that "6-foot-2 or 6-3 guards aretrying to make their (offense entry) pass over or around us. Weextend (the point of the defense) out to 20, 25 feet, and they're offon one side, trying to do what they want to do out on top."

Opponents, like State, are left to attack from strange angles.None of the last eight WVU opponents had shot better than the .393percentage the Wolfpack managed. Beilein's teachings in the 1-3-1includes WVU defending against six-man units in practice.

What else the 10-0 start means, besides the Mountaineers joinDuke, Illinois, Kansas, Boston College, Texas A&M and Wichita Stateas unbeatens, is that WVU has some quality wins to ride the NCAAbubble in two months.

Wins here and at LSU, and the triumph over GW give theMountaineers some margin for error in the Big East - althoughBeilein's team gets three of its first four league games, and four ofsix, at WVU Coliseum.

"We're all right," said West Virginia junior Johannes Herber ofthe 10-0 start.

"As individuals, we're nothing special. As a team, we're justsolid. We're mature. We understand what we're doing."

That is not to say the Mountaineers quite understand what they'vedone.

After all, 47 years ago, even Beilein was only 4.

China sanctioned for chem, bio transfers to Iran

ON JANUARY 16, the United States sanctioned two Chinese companies and an individual for transferring to Iran sensitive equipment and technology used to manufacture chemical and biological weapons.

According to the State Department, the transfers have taken place since January 1999 and involved goods restricted by the Australia Group, an informal body of 33 countries that coordinate their controls on biological and chemical weapons-related exports. The United States last sanctioned a Chinese entity for chemical or biological weapons-related transfers in June 2001, according to an administration official.

Levied under the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 and effective for two years, the latest sanctions prohibit the U.S. government from conducting business with or providing assistance to the Chinese entities: Liyang Chemical Equipment, China Machinery and Electric Import and Export Company, and Q. C. Chen. The sanctions also bar certain weapons and defense-related sales to the entities, as well as sales of goods requiring particular export licenses.

In a January 25 written statement, the State Department said, "For many years we have made known to the Chinese Government our concerns about specific Chinese entities providing assistance to Iran's chemical weapons program. Q. C. Chen has been among the entities we have raised on multiple occasions."

Chen is already subject to U.S. sanctions imposed in 1997 for assisting Iran's chemical weapons program; the other two entities were not already under sanctions. When asked, the State Department could not say whether the United States currently conducts business with the three entities.

The sanctions could have been waived, but Washington "did not believe it was appropriate" to do so, the State Department said in its statement. More information on the nature of the transfers was not publicly available, but the fact that the sanctions were levied about a month before President George W. Bush traveled to China could indicate their seriousness.

China's Foreign Ministry rebutted the U.S. charges in a January 25 statement, saying the sanctions are "unreasonable" and "should be cancelled," Agence France-Presse reported. "China is opposed to any country developing chemical weapons, and furthermore does not help any country develop chemical weapons," the statement said. -Seth Brugger

Ordonez hits 2 homers and Tigers rout Twins 19-3

Magglio Ordonez homered twice and drove in six runs to help the Detroit Tigers rout the Minnesota Twins 19-3 on Saturday night.

The defending AL batting champion hit a two-run shot to deep left field and drove in two runners with a third-inning double that gave Detroit the lead for good. He added another two-run shot to left during a six-run fourth.

Detroit's victory ended a four-game losing streak against its AL Central rival.

Twins right-hander Boof Bonser (2-6) had his shortest outing of the season, lasting just three batters into the fourth. He gave up the Tigers' first nine runs and remained winless in five May starts.

Ordonez's double opened the scoring in a four-run third that also featured RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen.

Bonser was pulled after the first three men reached base in the fourth, but relievers Brian Bass and Juan Rincon didn't fare any better. Bass gave up seven runs in 1 1-3 innings and Rincon allowed three more in the next 2 2-3.

Detroit scored six runs in the fourth and seven in the fifth.

Gary Sheffield had a two-run single in the fifth and finished with his first three-RBI game of the season. Placido Polanco was 4-for-5 and scored four times.

Detroit's Nate Robertson (2-5) struck out four and allowed all three runs in 6 1-3 innings. The victory was his first since May 1.

Aquilino Lopez finished the game and struck out four while allowing just one hit.

Minnesota's Alexi Casilla tied the game with a two-run homer in the third. Matt Macri, making his major league debut, added an RBI single in the fourth.

Notes:@ Ordonez raised his batting average to .330, an 11-point jump. His last six-RBI game was June 9, 2002, at Montreal as a member of the White Sox. ... Macri started at third base and had singles in his first two at-bats. ... Tigers players and coaches wore red caps during pregame activities to salute the Detroit Red Wings, who opened the Stanley Cup finals across town Saturday evening. Mike Ilitch owns both teams.

Recent Kerry visit helped prepare for Bush: Huntington gearing up for presidential appearance Friday

They've done it before, and this time should be no different.

Huntington has experience when it comes to visits from politicalfigures. Two weeks after the city welcomed Democratic presidentialnominee John Kerry, it will do it again Friday for President Bush.

Matt Rugh, Charleston's Secret Service resident agent-in-charge,said experience should pay off Friday.

"They've been extremely supportive and cooperative with us," Rughsaid about Huntington and other surrounding police departments.

Huntington Mayor David Felinton said police are working closelywith the Secret Service to keep things safe for Bush and the city'sresidents. Other area police departments also are working with theSecret Service to prepare for Bush's visit.

"The Secret Service doesn't have the manpower to accomplish whatwe need to accomplish alone," Rugh said.

Police officials from the Huntington and Marshall Universitydepartments declined to talk about specific preparations. But it islikely, Rugh said, that more officers will be on the job that day toprovide security for Bush's speech at Marshall and at a rally atHarris Riverfront Park where thousands are expected to addressconcerns about jobs and health care.

Those at the rally, organized by the Southwestern District LaborCouncil, are expected to march to Marshall at the end of the event.

Rugh said one problem would be road closures as Bush's motorcademakes its way into Huntington from Tri-State Airport in Wayne County.

Marshall officials will close two parking lots adjacent to theJoan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center where Bush will speak.

At Marshall, preparations are to mirror those involved in Kerry'svisit. The big difference is that the White House is sending morepeople, said H. Keith Spears, Marshall's vice president ofinstitutional advancement.

"It's gone very smooth," he said. "The information and the processthat the White House has laid out so far have gone very well."

Having two major political figures on campus within such a shorttime has caused a lot of excitement, Spears said.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the university," Spears said."Having two national leaders like this bringing major issues tocampus brings healthy political dialogue to our students."

Friday will be the first time a sitting president has visitedHuntington since 1996 when President Clinton made a stop on his wayto a Democratic National Convention.

Bush was last in Huntington on Oct. 2, 2000, as a presidentialcandidate.

Rugh said the visits are part of the job of the Secret Service.

"We'll get the job done," he said.

Writer Mike Andrick can be reached at 348-1796 or by e-mail atmandrick@dailymail.com.

Ricardo Gonzalez wins SAS Masters by 2 strokes

Ricardo Gonzalez won the SAS Masters by two strokes on Sunday, making birdies on five of the final six holes for a 4-under 69.

The 39-year-old Argentine finished at 10-under 282 on the 7,665-yard Barseback Golf Club course _ the longest in European Tour history.

Jamie Donaldson of Wales closed with a course-record tying 68 to take second. Jeppe Huldahl of Denmark (74) was third, another two shots back.

Gonzalez pitched to 2 feet on the 16th, then holed a bunker shot on the next to take the lead. On the last hole, he hit over trees to within 5 feet of the flag.

"I felt very confident when I went to the bunker," Gonzalez said.

Overnight leader Marcus Fraser of Australia slipped to a 77 and shared fourth at 288 with six others.

It was the fourth European Tour win for Gonzalez, who played on the Challenge Tour and smaller events in Sweden earlier in his career.

"I'm very happy. It was a very important win because I haven't played so well this year," said Gonzalez, who did not make the top 10 in 13 previous tournaments this year. He missed six cuts.

Henrik Stenson, a Barseback member who will move to fifth when the world rankings are updated Monday, closed with a 76 that left him tied for 73rd among 78 finishers.

Remains of Giant Dinosaur Found in China

BEIJING - The remains of a giant, birdlike dinosaur as tall as the formidable tyrannosaur have been found in China, a surprising discovery that indicates a more complicated evolutionary process for birds than originally thought, scientists said Wednesday.

Fossilized bones uncovered in the Erlian Basin of northern China's Inner Mongolia region show that the specimen was about 26 feet long, 16 feet tall and weighed 3,000 pounds, said Xu Xing, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology in Beijing.

The height is comparable to the meat-eating tyrannosaurs. But the dinosaur, called Gigantoraptor erlianensis, also had a beak and slender legs and likely had feathers. It was 35 times larger than its likely close relation, the Caudiperyx, a small, feathered dinosaur species, Xu said.

That puts the Gigantoraptor's existence at odds with prevailing theories that dinosaurs became smaller as they evolved into birds and that bigger dinosaurs had less birdlike characteristics, he said.

"This is like having a mouse that is the size of a horse or cow," said Xu, who co-authored a paper on the finding published Thursday in the journal Nature. "It is very important information for us in our efforts to trace the evolution process of dinosaurs to birds. It's more complicated than we imagined."

The Caudiperyx and the Gigantoraptor belong to a group of dinosaurs called oviraptors, which tend to be human-sized or smaller. In recent years paleontologists have found turkey-sized, feathered representatives of the group, but they have never found anything close to the scale of Gigantoraptor.

"It's one of the last groups of dinosaurs that we would expect to be that big," said Mark Norell, curator of paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

But Philip Currie, a paleontologist at the University of Alberta, said the size of the Gigantoraptor would be a natural step in the evolutionary process of the oviraptors.

"Almost every group that has evolved has tended to evolve giant forms," Currie said.

Animals tend to become bigger with evolution because larger creatures have an easier time getting food, impressing potential mates and avoiding predators.

But size has disadvantages, too. Bigger animals need more food and territory. They have fewer offspring and reproduce less frequently than smaller animals do. That means they are particularly vulnerable when environmental conditions change, as they abruptly did about 65 million years ago. Just a few million years after Gigantoraptor evolved, it and every other dinosaur species on Earth became extinct.

On Wednesday, reporters were given a look at the Gigantoraptor's remains - two yellowing, rough-edged leg bones both a little over 3.2 feet long and believed to be those of a young adult.

It has not been determined whether the Gigantoraptor was a herbivore, which have small heads and long necks, or a carnivore, which have sharp claws. The dinosaur has both, Xu said.

Xu and his team, which discovered three other specimens in the fossil-rich Erlian Basin, were being interviewed by Japanese media in 2005 when they discovered the Gigantoraptor remains.

They had chosen a random site to illustrate how one of the previous fossils had been discovered and hit upon a bone while on camera, Xu said. The team originally thought that it belonged to a tyrannosaur because of its size, but realized upon examination that it was an oviraptor.

"It was an unexpected finding," Xu said.

---

Associated Press writer Matt Crenson in New York contributed to this story.

Bridge

Unlucky Louie and I were looking over the scores from a duplicategame when we came to today's deal. Every North-South pair had reachedfour spades, and most had taken 11 tricks, losing a club and adiamond.

"I made six," Louie told me. "Against me, West led the ace ofhearts. I ruffed, drew trumps and led a low diamond. I got to dummywith the jack of diamonds to pitch my losing club on the king ofhearts."

"One South went down at four spades," I observed. "That looksimpossible."

"Nothing is impossible for Minnie and those glasses of hers," saidCy the Cynic, joining us.

Minnie Bottoms, my club's senior member, wears old bifocals thatmake her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents' dismay. Cyis Minnie's chief victim.

"What happened?" I asked Cy.

The story came out. Minnie's partner had led the four of clubs,and Cy had put up dummy's jack. Minnie, East, signaled with theseven! She thought she had the Q-J, and dummy's "king" had won.

"I found myself in dummy," Cy said, "so I naturally took theopportunity to let the jack of diamonds ride for a finesse. Afterall, it was duplicate, and I could see a chance for threeovertricks."

West took the king of diamonds and returned a diamond, and Minnieruffed and led a club. West ruffed Cy's ace (much to his amazement)and led another diamond. Cy ruffed desperately with dummy's nine, butMinnie overruffed with the jack. Down one!

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

LADY JAGUARS TO MAKE 2ND TRIP THIS SEASON TO SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ARENA AS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE

MOBILE, Ala., Nov. 29 -- University of South Alabama issued the following news release:

The University of South Alabama women's basketball team will make its second trip this season to a Southeastern Conference arena when the Lady Jags head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. USA traveled to Ole Miss back on Nov. 18.

"Playing on the road against a BCS opponent is always an incredibly difficult challenge," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. "It's even more difficult when the opponent is playing as well as Mississippi State is right now at 5-1. They present some problems to us from the standpoint that they have tremendous size inside with their starting group at 6-f5 and 6-4 in the post. They also have some incredibly skilled guards that can break you down and make difficult shots. From a defensive standpoint, their length inside and their quickness on the perimeter makes them tough to score against. We have a great challenge ahead and we'll see if we are up to it."

Tip-off between the Lady Jags and Lady Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. Live stats for the contest will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

South Alabama (5-1) comes into the midweek contest versus the Lady Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories over Texas-San Antonio and Utah over the weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

USA opened up the tournament with a 54-42 second-half rally victory over UTSA on Friday and then once again came back from a 12-point deficit to pick up the program's first-ever victory over a Pac 12 team with a 61-53 win over the Utes.

For their play at the Roadrunner tourney, Camille Reynolds and Jennifer Johnson were each selected to the all-tournament team. In the two games, Reynolds averaged 14 ppg, while Johnson had 13.5 ppg at the tournament. Both players shot 50 percent or better off the bench.

The 5-1 start for the Lady Jags is the first since opening the 2008-09 season and the seventh time -2011-12, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2003-04, 2001-02, 1984-85*, 1982-83, - that the program has done so. USA has done so five times under Pietri. The Jags opened the '84-'85 season with 12-straight wins.

Reynolds continues to pace the club offensively with 14.5 points per outing - tied for eighth-best in the Sun Belt. The junior guard also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (4th - .544), three-point field goal percentage (1st - .615) and three-pointers per game (tied for 11th - 1.2). Against UTSA, Reynolds recorded 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

With her 20-point effort against Utah on Saturday, Johnson raised her season average to 7.7 ppg. Like Reynolds, Johnson did most of her damage in the final 20 minutes of action, recorded 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Johnson has connected on 35 percent of her attempts from the arc this season and has had at least one block in five of USA's six games.

Mansa El has also played well as of late as she has posted 10 points in three of her last four games. She is second on the club with 8.2 ppg.

As a team, USA SA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, turnover margin and offensive rebounds, while ranking second in the league in three-point field goal defense and three-pointers per game.

Like the Lady Jags, Mississippi State enters the game on Wednesday with a 5-1 mark of its own. The Lady Bulldogs lone loss of the season came at No. 4 Texas A&M.

Senior guard Diamber Jackson is one of two players averaging double-figures this season. Jackson ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 16.2 ppg. She also ranks fourth in the conference in assists and second in assist-turnover ratio.

Fellow senior Portia Porter is also averaging double digits with 12.5 ppg - 18th in the SEC. Porter has been just as valuable at the defensive end of the floor as she has 25 steals and is averaging 4.2 steals per game - which ranks second in the league.

On the interior, MSU starts a pair of 6-footers. Fifth-year senior Catina Bett, who stands at 6-5, is averaging 5.5 ppg and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field. True freshman Martha Alwal has been a force in the post as she ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game and leads the conference with 4.2 blocks per outing. Nationally, she ranks 24th and third, respectively in those two categories.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are sixth in the NCAA in blocks, averaging 7.2 per contest.

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: The meeting between South Alabama and Mississippi State will be 16th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Bulldogs hold a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five, including last season's 56-43 victory over the Lady Jags in Mobile. USA's last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-53 win in Mobile (2003-04). South Alabama's last win in Starkville came back during the 1979-80 season, a 73-71 win. Pietri holds a 1-3 record versus MSU during his time at USA. The meeting between Pietri and Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis will be the fourth between the two coaches. Fanning-Otis holds a 3-1 advantage in those previous meetings. The program is 1-5 all-time in games played in Starkville versus the Bulldogs. The game against Mississippi State will mark the 105th time USA has faced an opponent currently in the Southeastern Conference. South Alabama is 18-86 all-time versus SEC members, while Pietri is 5-14 against the league. The Bulldogs will be the second SEC opponent for the Lady Jags this season. USA fell 54-45 at Ole Miss back on Nov. 18. Over the 37-year history of the South Alabama program, SEC arenas have not been too kind to USA. In its previous 38 attempts to capture a SEC road win, USA has been successful just twice and lost 18-straight. South Alabama's last win in an SEC arena came back on Jan. 9, 1986 when USA won at Florida (71-64). The Lady Jags' only other victory at an SEC arena came on Dec. 15, 1979 - a 73-71 win at Mississippi State. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com