HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Senior Chyna Ellis scored a career-high 24 points as part of her third double-double of season to help the South Alabama women's basketball team (5-1) hand Southern Mississippi (6-2) its first home loss of the 2017-18 campaign, 78-57. This is the first Jaguar victory over Southern Mississippi since 2012 and is the first victory in Hattiesburg since 2007.
 
This was the second-time Ellis has broken her career-mark in points this season as part of four Jaguars scoring in double-digits. The senior center went 9-of-20 from the field, 1-4 from three-point range, and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe, while collecting 10 rebounds for her double-double. Ellis also had three assists and two rejections.
 
Savannah Jones came back with a vengeance after missing the game against Alabama State. The redshirt freshman shot 5-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 on three-pointers, for 15 points. Jones also collected five boards and a helper.
 
Shaforia Kines dropped 15 points against the Golden Eagles on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-4 from the three-point arc. The sophomore guard also had five assists, four rebounds and shot 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
 
Genesis Perrymond collected 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Perrymond had a team-high six assists and collected four rebounds in the victory.
 
Antoinette Lewis produced nine points off the bench, including 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, and LaNeetra Guillory collected seven rebounds in the matchup.
 
GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars had a rocky finish to the first quarter. They saw a 5-point lead evaporate in the final 2:01 and shot 1-of-7 to end the opening frame as USM led 17-16.
- South Alabama outscored Southern Miss 21-8 in the second quarter. Coming into the matchup, USA had been outscored 72-62 in the second during its first five games.
- The Jags did not relinquish the lead after a Christen Carter jumper gave them a one-point lead with 7:41 left in the second. USA led for 37:44 during the game.
- Tonight was the best effort for the Jags from the charity stripe this season as they shot 82.4 percent, 14-of-17, from the free-throw line.
- The Jags tied a season-high 28 points scored in the fourth quarter. Ellis capped-off a 9-0 run in the quarter with 1:50 remaining in the game on a layup.
- USA held USM to 0-for-6 from the field during the final 3:38 of the game.
- The Jags dominated points in the paint and second chance points by outscoring the Golden Eagles 28-16 and 16-8, respectively, in each category.
- USA committed just nine turnovers, the fewest this season, and committed fewer than 10 for the first time since Jan. 23, 2016, against ULM.
- South Alabama outrebounded USM 42-35.
- The Jags held the Golden Eagles to 2-of-12 from the three-point arc for a .167 shooting percentage, tied for the lowest percentage by an opponent this season. USM did not hit a three until 3:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- USM's Jayla King led the Golden Eagles with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 6-of-13 from the free-throw line, while collecting a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double. King came into the contest averaging 17.3 points per game.
 
NOTES
- This was USA head coach Terry Fowler's 251st career victory.
- The 5-1 start is the best under Fowler and is the best start to a season since 2012-13.
- The Jags cap off November with an .833 winning percentage, their best winning percentage in November since the 2008-09 season.
- The Jags are on a four game-win streak, the first since 2015-16.
- The Jags dealt the Golden Eagles just their third regular-season home loss since the beginning of last season.
- The Jags had four-double digit scorers for the first time this season.
- This was the fourth time a Jag has scored 20 or more points in a game this season, including Ellis' second time.
- The same starting-five has been used in all six games.
-  Ellis' double-double was the 19th of her career.
- Ellis has had double-digit points in five games, while recording double-digit rebounds in four.
- Jones has scored in double-digits four times this season, while tonight was Kines' second.
- Perrymond's 10 points was a season-high for the senior guard.
- This was the 520th consecutive game South Alabama has made a three-point bucket, and the Jaguars' first points have come on three-pointers in five of the six games this season.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "It was a lot of fun. A lot of different contributors out there tonight. We are moving the ball and sharing it. I don't know what our assists were, but I know we were playing with a lot of heart out there. We are a confident group right now."
 
On lowest amount of turnovers in a game this season: "When you don't turn the ball over you get more possessions to score and keep the other team from scoring. This was a big one on the road. We have been talking about road wins. We have to keep up what we're doing because we have a tough one against Jacksonville at home on Sunday, but we are going to enjoy this one tonight because it has been a long time coming."
 
On the improvement at the charity stripe tonight: "We talked about it and took some extra free throws in practice. We knew free throw shooting was going to be a key tonight. We know we are going to have to hit free throws to beat quality teams. It made it easier for us to go out there and extend the lead."
 
Shaforia Kines
On the improvement from the free throw line: "Everybody has been working on free throws in practice. We are just trying to improve on them every day carry it over from practice into the games.
 
Chyna Ellis
On setting her career-high in points for the second time this season: "It's all about my teammates. They give me the ball to score and help the team."
 
On what is working for this team to be as successful as it has been: "I believe the team chemistry is a lot better this year. We know how to work with each other, what each other's strengths are and how to play off them."
 
Genesis Perrymond
On Southern Miss beating Tulane and how the Tulane exhibition helped the team: "The Tulane exhibition was to see where we were at and get our feet under us. Once we had that experience we built off it and used it tonight in this game."
 
On what has been different about this team compared to her last couple of seasons: "Every season we have had a great group of girls and great leadership, but this year we want it. Every year we've wanted it, but this year we're not going to let there be any excuses or reasons why we can't do what we're doing or make an effort to push everybody."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars look to continue their win streak when they play Jacksonville at the Mitchell Center on Sunday.
 
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).

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—USA—