University of South Alabama Athletics

After sustaining a concussion in practice prior to leaving for Southern and missing South Alabama’s first two games this week, senior guard Mary Nixon returned to the court for the Lady Jags versus Detroit and had an immediate impact.   In the consolation game of the Radisson Hotel Chatsworth Thanksgiving Basketball Classic in Northridge, Calif., against the Titans, Nixon recorded 19 points and tied a career high with four steals.  She was 5-of-11 from the floor - 3-for-5 from long range - and 6-for-8 at the foul line in the win.  She also tied career best in made free throws and three-pointers.  Tied 48-48 with under five to go against Detroit, Nixon gave USA the lead for good when she hit one of two at the charity stripe, extending the advantage to four with a trey on the next possession.  Nixon’s biggest play of the game might have come at the defensive end of the floor as with Detroit only down three with less than a minute to go, she deflected an inbounds pass and threw the ball off a Titan player to give USA the ball.  The Jaguars capitalized on the extra possession as Veronica Cherizol hit a three-pointer to give South Alabama breathing room.  Despite just playing the one game, Nixon still was selected to the Radisson Hotel Chatsworth Thanksgiving Basketball Classic all-tournament squad.