One of five true freshmen on the roster, Antoinette Lewis signed with the University of South Alabama women's basketball program last fall. A graduate of Harding Academy in Memphis, Tenn., she left the program as the all-time leading rebounder at Harding and helped lead the Lions to a pair of state final four appearances. She sat down with USAJaguars.com to talk about here basketball game, why her family is a major influence on her career, and about here experience on the team's trip to Canada.

When did you start playing basketball?
"I started playing basketball when I was in the sixth grade. I tried to play when I was younger, but I hated it because I was lazy. I grew up watching my brother play and that made me realize it could be fun to play. As I grew, I started to become bigger than everyone else. That made it easier and I ran with it."

Take me through your journey to South.
"I picked South because on my visit, the team was really nice and welcoming to me. I didn't feel left out. They didn't allow me to sit by myself or make me feel like I wasn't welcome here. It felt family orientated. It made me believe I would be okay leaving family and leaving home to be with this basketball program. I didn't feel that way with other visits I went on at other schools."

How would you describe your playing style?
"I think I'm a back to the basket type of player in the post. I'm more comfortable there and I know what I can and can't do. I know once it's in my head to 'go get the rebound' or 'go score', I'm going to do it. Nobody is going to stop me, but me."

What is your biggest strength on the court?
"I'm a really good rebounder. I broke the rebounding record at my high school and still hold that record. If a rebound is coming my way I am going to get it."

What are you working on for this season?
"I'm not best shooter, but I am pretty good. The coaches like my shot and they want me to get more comfortable with stepping out and shooting the three. I am working on becoming more consistent from the arc."

What is your favorite thing about playing basketball?
"I like the competiveness. I like to go out there and compete and have fun. I also like the relationships you build out of it and that I get to display my hard work."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life as a basketball player?
"My family. Just knowing that they care for me and see something in me that I don't see in myself as a basketball player, pushes me and motivates me to work hard and make them proud of who I am. They are already excited that I'm here at college playing basketball, but they know that I'm a better player than what is being shown and it just motivates me knowing that people still believe in me even after reaching this milestone."

Who do you model your game after?
"I've been compared to Shaq because I'm not the best free-throw shooter in the world, but with my back to the basket nobody is stopping me. So you could say I model it after him, but I contend that I am better at the free-throw line than him."

How was your experience during the Canada trip?
"The Canada trip was fun. I was nervous because it was my first college game with a 24-second shot clock on a wider paint. It wasn't what I expected my first experience to be, but it was fun. The team bonded, we got to know each other a lot better than we expected and it was a lot of fun. It was an amazing trip."

What was your favorite part of the trip?
"My favorite part was the biking tour. We took a three-hour tour of Montreal and we all thought we were going to hate it because it was hot and we were going to go up hills, but it was fun. We got to laugh at each other and make memories during those three hours."

Quick Hits
Favorite basketball team: Los Angeles Lakers
Favorite sport other than basketball: Volleyball
Favorite musical artist: Rihanna
Favorite class: Math
Favorite social media: Snapchat
Favorite movie: The Wood
Favorite TV show: Being Mary Jane
Favorite basketball player: Kobe Bryant

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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