LAFAYETTE, La. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team (14-5, 7-1 SBC) took down the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-10, 5-3 SBC), 72-57, in Lafayette to extend its winning streak to five games. This is the first-time since 2010 the Jags have gone on a five-game Sun Belt Conference win streak.
Savannah Jones came out scorching hot against Louisiana after scoring a season-low two points against Appalachian State on Saturday. The redshirt freshman scored 13 points on a 5-of-7 shooting night, making 3-of-4 attempts from three-point range, while grabbing three boards and assisting on a shot.
Shaforia Kines matched Jones with 13 tying for the team-high. Kines went 6-of-11 from the field and made a three-point bucket on three attempts. The sophomore guard also grabbed four rebounds and had a pair of assists and steals in the win.
LaNeetra Guillory made up the trio of Jags in double-figure scoring with 11. The senior forward shot 4-of-6 from the field, and was a perfect 2-for-2 on three-point buckets.
Chyna Ellis grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while scoring seven points. The senior center also had four blocks and assisted on four shots.
Louisiana's leading scorer Nekia Jones scored 16 on the evening. Jones shot 6-of-11 from the field, making four of the Ragin' Cajun's five three-pointers.
GAME FACTS
- The Jags jumped out to a 15-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- In the second, USA went on two separate 7-0 runs.
- However, Louisiana held South Alabama scoreless for the final 4:33 of the half.
- The Jags shot 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, while holding the Ragin' Cajuns to 0-for-6 on three-point attempts in the first-half.
- USA came out of the half on a 12-0 run, outscoring Louisiana 25-9 in the third quarter.
- Despite being outscored in the final quarter 29-18, South Alabama shot 50 percent from the field and took the road matchup.
- The Jags outrebound the Ragin' Cajuns 41-33, including 30-21 on the defensive glass.
- USA edged Louisiana on points in the paint and second chance points 26-24 and 10-9, respectively.
- South Alabama shot 48.3 percent from the field, while shooting 45.5 percent on three-point attempts.
- The Jags shot at least 50 percent from the field in every quarter except for the first.
NOTES
- USA is 5-3 on the road this season.
- South Alabama is 7-1 in conference for the first-time since 2009-10 season.
- The Jags are 12-2 when scoring 60 or more points, including 8-0 when scoring more than 70.
- USA is 11-0 when leading at the half.
- Guillory had her second game this season with 10 or more points, both during SBC action.
- Ellis had her ninth game this season with 10 or more rebounds, and it was her 11th game with three or more blocks.
- A win on Saturday at ULM would tie head coach Terry Fowler's most in a season at South Alabama with 15, set during the 2016-17 season.
- The Jags will also look to extend their conference winning streak to six, which would be the second-longest SBC win streak in program history.
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
On coming out strong in the second-half. "We got stops and rebounds. We got easy baskets in transition. We were able to stretch it out. We talked about needing to knock them out the first five minutes of the second-half."
On the freshman getting in late in the game: "We decided it was time to get them in there. They need to get experience like they did tonight. You never know when that opportunity is going to come again and you never know when you are going to have to put them in. It was important they played here tonight."
Sophomore G Shaforia Kines
On her play against Louisiana: "I was feeling good in warm-ups and I knew I was going to have a good game. I was making all of my shots. GG (Genesis Perrymond) was there constantly telling me to shoot."
On being a leader as an underclassman: "As a point guard, I have to be a leader, but I just try to pump up my teammates and talk with everyone on the court, whether I have the ball or am playing away from it. That's the biggest thing I have to do is to continue to talk."
On the team's win streak: "It feels good to win. When we come into the locker room, and get to celebrate each win it feels great."
Redshirt freshman G Savannah Jones
On coming off a sub-par performance against App State: "Tonight I just tried to really focus on the game and nothing else. I tried to put the last game behind me."
On the team's win streak and being a part of a winning team this season: "It's a great feeling to be a part of this team. I think it's a good start and want to finish this year strong heading into the next few years."
On looking to continue this success to ULM on Saturday: "The same, I just want us to win."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars finish the Louisiana swing at ULM on Saturday with a noon start.
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 Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—
