Game 33 • South Alabama Jaguars (20-12, 11-7 SBC) vs. Furman Paladins (18-13, 7-7 Southern)
March 19, 2018 • 7:00 p.m. (C.T.) • Mitchell Center • Mobile, Ala.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Terry Fowler (Lane [Tenn.], '86)
Record at USA: 59-91 (5th year)
Overall Record: 266-269 (18th year)

Furman
Jackie Carson
(Furman, '00)
Record at Furman: 125-123 (7)
Overall Record: 125-123 (7)
 
LAST GAME.
South Alabama defeated Stetson in the opening round of the WBI, 49-33.

NEXT GAME
If the Jags defeat the Paladins, they will travel to either Yale or Binghamton for the semifinals on either Mar. 23 or 24.

ON THE AIR
On the web: http://usajaguars.com/watch/?Live=1065&type=Archive
On the air: https://www.iheart.com/live/995-the-jag-mobile-7117/; 99.5 FM The Jag, pbp JT Crabtree
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/215802

RANKINGS (Games played through Mar. 11)
USA: #179 RPI
Furman: #191 RPI

THE SERIES
The Jags have never faced the Paladins.
 
OPENING TIP
- The Jags defeated Stetson in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitational, 49-33, Thursday.
- It was the first postseason victory since the 1987-88 season.
- Hosting Furman will be the 16th home game this season, the most during a season for the women's basketball program in a season.
- USA is 3-4 in postseason games in program history.
- South Alabama tied the SBC Tournament record set by WKU in 2003 for made threes in a game with 13 against ULM (Mar. 6).
- Chyna Ellis collected her 94th block this season against ULM to break her single-season record she set last season and has 99 for the season after the matchup against Troy.
- Ellis was named first-team all-conference and Defensive Player of the Year by the league office on Mar. 5, while Savannah Jones was named Freshman of the Year.
- Against Coastal Carolina (Jan. 18), Ellis' 10 rejections were a career-high and is now the individual record for a women's basketball player at the Mitchell Center.
- Since Ellis has been at South Alabama, the Jaguars have had 708 blocks. The team only had 697 blocks the previous nine seasons combined.
- South Alabama is 8-6 on the road, 11-5 at home and 1-1 at neutral sites this season.
- South Alabama received a vote in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches' Poll during week 9 of the poll, marking the first time since the 2008-09 season the Jags have received a vote in the poll.
- Genesis Perrymond recorded a career-high 9 assists, the most by a Jag this season, when they faced Central Arkansas.
- South Alabama has had at least two players score 10 or more point per game in every contest except for one.
- USA has had 15 20 or more point scoring efforts this season. Ellis has had seven, including a career-high 24 points against Southern Mississippi.
- Ellis has 13 double-doubles this season and Lewis has three.
- Ellis has had double-digit points in 24 games, while recording double-digit rebounds in 15.
- Jones has scored in double-digits 21 times this season, Shaforia Kines has done so 12 times, Lewis 11 times, while Genesis Perrymond has done so seven times and Erin Autio has scored double-figures in six games.
- South Alabama has four scorers averaging nine or more points per contest, Ellis (13.7), Jones (12.1), Kines (9.2), and Lewis (9.0).
- USA has had three players record three blocks in a game this season, Ellis 19 times, Lewis six times and Guillory four times.
- Jones has made 65 three-pointers this season, the most by a freshman in program history, and is in the top-10 for freshman scoring in a season with 376 points.
- Lewis has the third-most blocks by a freshman in a season with 38.
- Ellis became the 19th women's basketball player in program history reach 1,000 points earlier this season.
- Ellis has 333 blocks for her career and is in the top-10 for blocks for a season during all four-years of her career at South Alabama. No other player has done that in any category in program history.
- South Alabama is 6-5 in games decided by single digits.
- The Jags have won 13 of their 20 games by double digits, including seven by 20 or more points.
- USA is 14-0 when outrebounding its opponent.
- When scoring 70 or more, South Alabama is 12-2.
- The Jags have only given up a halftime or third-quarter lead three-times this season.
- Furman is 18-13 this season.
- The Paladins defeated UNC Asheville in the first round of the WBI.
- Furman has three players averaging more than 10 points, Cierra Carter (15.6), Le'Jzae Davidson (13.6) and Celena Taborn (11.8).
- Taborn also leads the team in blocks with 47.
- Stephania Oramas leads the Paladins in assists (109) and steals (38).
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
On what the opening round win means for the team and program: "It's great for these young ladies because it's something they set out to do back in July when we first got together and set team goals. As for the program, it's great from the standpoint that it gives you a boost in recruiting. It's a big help for moving forward and sets a standard for next year's team and future teams. You can't understate the experience we are undertaking."
 
On Furman: "They're a team that plays really good on the defensive end. They've got big posts and isolate for their post players. They run a lot of action and a lot of movement. They have guards that have the potential to put up big numbers. They have a great balance."
 
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—