ARLINGTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team (10-5, 3-1) overcame a half-time deficit for the first-time this season as senior Chyna Ellis collected her 1,000th point on a 20-point afternoon in win at UTA (8-7, 2-2) on Saturday. The win ended a four-game losing streak to the Mavericks.
 
Ellis shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-6 on three-point attempts and 2-for-4 on free-throws, for her fifth 20-point effort of the season. The senior center also collected 11 rebounds, six blocks and two steals as part of her second-straight double-double.
 
Savannah Jones scored 15 points, all in second-half, on a 7-of-11 shooting night. Jones also collected 4 rebounds and an assist in the road-win.
 
Senior forward LaNeetra Guillory had a career-night as she scored 14 points to tie a career-high set on Jan. 26, 2016, at Troy. Guillory went 5-of-7 from the field, making a three-pointer and three shots from the charity-stripe. She also had three rebounds, an assist, a rejection and a takeaway in the contest.
 
Shaforia Kines came up one point, rebound and assist away from a triple-double as she recorded nine in each category. The sophomore guard shot 3-for-7 from the field, making a three-pointer and going 2-of-4 on free-throws, while also recording a steal.
 
The Mavericks had three double-digit scores led by Rebekah VanDijk. VanDijk scored 15 on a 6-of-13 shooting night, while also grabbing 8 rebounds and turning away two Jaguar shots.
 
GAME FACTS
- Ellis scored her 1,000th point on her second made three-point bucket in the first three minutes of the game.
- The Jags trailed by a one at the end of the first quarter.
- Both teams attempted 13 shots in the opening quarter, as the Mavs made six to the Jags' five.
- In the second, UTA extended its lead to seven with 5:17 left in the quarter, its largest lead of the game.
- As Mavs lead by seven with 2:16 remaining in the first-half, the Jags went on a 6-0 run with threes made by Erin Autio and Ellis to bring the lead to one going into the half.
- The second-half was all South Alabama as it outscored UTA 43-29 in the last two quarters, including 29-17 in the fourth.
- USA had its largest lead of the game at 15 points after a pair of made free-throws by Ellis with 18 seconds remaining in the game.
- The Jags dominated the boards taking the battle 43-26, including 13-7 on the offensive end and 30-19 on the defensive glass.
- South Alabama turned the 13 offensive boards into 12 second-chance points.
- The two squads were evenly matched in the paint with each scoring 24 points.
- USA had eight blocks to UTA's six.
- The Mavs turned 16 Jag turnovers into 20 points, while the Jags scored 18 off 14 Maverick turnovers.
 
NOTES
- Ellis became the 19th Jaguar in program history to reach 1,000 points.
- Her six blocks tied a season-high and she is now just five away from becoming the all-time leader in Sun Belt Conference history.
- Kines' nine rebounds tied a career-high, her nine helpers set a career-mark.
- Ellis had her seventh-double of the season and is the second-time this season she has had them in back-to-back games.
- The 17 rebound margin is the largest since the home-opening game against Georgia Southwestern when they outrebounded the Hurricanes by 18.
- The Jags were 0-5 when trailing at halftime this season until today's comeback.
- Head Coach Terry Fowler now has 49 wins during his career at South Alabama.
- Jones had her fourth-straight game with 10 or more points, and it was her 11th time in double figures this season.
- The Jags are 6-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
On the win: "That was a big one for us. We just talked about maintaining our character as a team and I am proud of them."
 
On bouncing back after the lost at Texas State: "The defense is what won it. We played outstanding everywhere on the floor. We rebounded the basketball and we were able to finish as a team."
 
On the large rebounding margin tonight: "We talked about rebounding the basketball. Every time we have outrebounded our opponent we have won the ball game. At Texas State we tied in rebounds and we weren't able to pull it out. Rebounding is the name of the game and we did an outstanding job. I am just so proud of what we did today because this is a tough environment to play in and it was big to get this win."
 
Forward LaNeetra Guillory
On tying a career-high in points: "I thought my teammates really helped me tie my career-high tonight. We shared the ball well in this game and it allowed me to score."
 
On the chemistry of the team this year: "This year we have a lot of team chemistry. We're all on one page and we all have one goal. I believe that no matter what an individual does, we all want the win so we work hard to get the "W"."
 
Center Chyna Ellis
On reaching her 1,000th point and how she has developed since her freshman season: "I've just tried to be consistent. I've tried to stay constant in improving my game. As a freshman, I started just as a back-to-the-basket post-player and now I'm a forward with how I play shooting threes, but I really just want to win every night."
 
On how the team chemistry this year has helped her and her teammates on the floor: "When you have team chemistry, everybody knows what to expect from each other and everyone knows each other's' strengths and weaknesses. We have learned how to play with each other."
 
On how today's win will help on Saturday against Troy: "This gives us confidence. UTA is a good team, Troy is a good team, and they play two different styles of basketball, but we're going to stick to our game plan and do what we have to do to come out with a win."
 
On inching closer to becoming the all-time leader in SBC history in blocks: "I feel blessed. Other than that, I can't really say how I feel. I'm just playing the game and it's coming to me. I just thank coach Fowler, my teammates and everyone who has been working with me and putting me in the right position towards getting closer to accomplishing the feat."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars continue SBC play against Troy at the Mitchell Center on Saturday. Opening tip is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
 
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—