MOBILE, Ala. –  Despite committing 31 turnovers and a 27-0 Southern run in the second-half, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team (6-3) took down SU, 69-65, to end a two-game losing streak behind Chyna Ellis' fifth double-double of the season.
 
Ellis collected a team-high 18 points, while shooting 7-of-13 from the field, including 1-of-2 on three-point attempts and 3-of-4 from the charity-stripe, and collected a game-high 12 rebounds en route to her second-straight double-double. The senior center also had a pair of steals, blocks and assists in the victory.
 
Savannah Jones joined Ellis as the only other USA player to reach double-digits in the game. The sophomore guard scored 14 points on a 4-of-13 shooting night, including shooting a perfect 5-for-5 on free-throw attempts. Jones also recorded three helpers and a rebound.
 
Shaforia Kines was a having a great night until her evening was cut short when she exited with an injury with just under two minute remaining in the third quarter. Kines shot 3-of-6 from the field, all three-point attempts, and collected seven rebounds, while assisting on three shots.
 
Antoinette Lewis rebounded after an 0-for-7 night from the field against Ole Miss on Saturday by making 3-of-4 shots for six points, collecting seven boards and recording a team-high three rejections.
 
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama led 22-13 at the end of the first quarter after holding Southern to just four points and 1-of-11 from the field in the final 6:22 of the opening quarter.
- USA continued its first half dominance over SU outscoring the visitors 27-14 in the second quarter. 27 points is the most by USA in the second quarter this season.
- South Alabama shot 50 percent the field in the first-half and scored 49 points, the most in any half this season.
- Southern made a comeback in the third as it went on 16-0 run in the final 5:02 of the period and cut the 22-point South Alabama halftime lead to eight.
- USA's only points in the third came on an Ellis three-pointer.
- Ellis ended the Southern run at 27-0 as she scored the first South Alabama points in nearly 10 minutes of play on a jumper with 6:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- USA recovered and took over in the final 2:23 going on an 11-2 run to close out the ballgame.
- South Alabama out rebounded Southern 47-30, including 33-17 on the defensive glass.
- USA overcame a season-high 31 turnovers, as SU had 18 takeaways and scored 41 of its 65 points off turnovers.
- South Alabama shot 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.
- Southern had 13 more shot attempts than South Alabama.
- SU had three scorers, Sarai Blissett, Samantha Duncan and Briana Green, combine for 59 points and 20-of-41 shooting from the field. The rest of the team combined for five points on 2-of-26 shooting, including 0-for-9 on three-pointers.
 
NOTES
- Ellis has 10 or more points in eight of South Alabama's nine games.
- Jones has six double-digit scoring efforts this season.
- Genesis Perrymond snapped a three-game streak with double-digit points.
- Lewis had her third-career game with three blocks, marking the eighth time a Jag has three blocks in a game this season.
- USA's three third-quarter points are the fewest in any quarter this season.
- Ellis had 10 or more rebounds in a game for the fifth-time this season, including three-times in the last four games.
- The senior center has also had three double-doubles in the last four matchups for the Jags.
- USA is 6-0 when tied or having outrebounded its opponent and is 5-0 when scoring more than 60 points.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
Opening Statement: "I thought this morning at our shoot around and warm ups today that we were ready to play. I thought we came out and did an outstanding job in the first 20 minutes of the ball game. That was some of the best offensive basketball we have played. Then for it to just be a flip in the second half was very difficult. I told the team, 31 turnovers, it's been a long time since we had that happen because we've been taking care of the ball pretty much every game. They got 41 off of those turnovers and that was the difference in the ball game. It was about finishing. We got stops when we needed to and we made free throws when we had to."
 
On having 31 turnovers but still winning the ball game: "When we played at Ole Miss and the Jacksonville game, those were tight, contested ball games. We came out on the wrong side of those. Tonight, we were able to make plays when we had to. That's what we talked about. We talked about three-possession games. That's what makes or breaks most people's seasons. We've been in four of those games and right now we're 2-2. We need to have more of those because that's going to happen, and we just have to be ready to play it. We haven't been a good free-throw shooting team, but we made them when we had to tonight."
 
On the second half: "We just have to go back and look at the film. They just upped their intensity. I know they felt like they weren't getting some calls, and so they were going to come out and really get aggressive. They did and we just didn't meet passes and execute the fundamentals. It caught up with us. When we had to though, we were able to make it."
 
Chyna Ellis
On the second half: "I think their pressure shook us a little bit, but we just stayed composed, broke the pressure when we could and focused on our shots."
 
On having 31 turnovers but still winning the ball game: "It shows that we are a disciplined team, that we want to win and that we're focused. We have a game plan and we're trying to stick to it."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars return to action on Saturday against Central Arkansas in the Mitchell Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:05.
 
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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