MOBILE, Ala. – The South Alabama women's basketball team officially kicked off the 2017-18 season with its first official team practice on Sunday (Oct. 1).

"We are really excited to get going. Our trip to Canada gave us a head start," head coach Terry Fowler said. "It allowed us to put a lot of our offense in and implement our defensive strategy, but there is nothing like that first day of practice."

The Jaguars welcome back eight letter winners from last season led by senior Chyna Ellis. Ellis is the all-time leader in program history in blocks with 231 and is third all-time in Sun Belt Conference history, trailing the all-time leader, Denver's Kaetlyn Murdoch, by 48. Ellis also brings back her scoring prowess after leading the Jags in points per game (10.5) and rebounds per game (8.0) last season.

South also welcomes five newcomers to the squad – Alexis Sykes, Antoinette Lewis, Casey Ferguson, Devyn Lowe and Jayla Morrow.

"I think everybody gets excited to get out there and get going," Fowler said. Our focus is to get better every day."

The Jaguars first game will be an exhibition in Mobile at the Mitchell Center against Faulker on Nov. 2, before opening the regular season at the Mitchell Center against Georgia Southwestern on Nov. 10.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
 
Join the Hardwood Club, the women's basketball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All gifts to the Hardwood Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's basketball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/hardwoodclub.
 
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