MONROE, La. - Behind a career-high 22 points off the bench by Tashley Gaines, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team remained perfect in league play and posted its best Sun Belt Conference start in the program's history with a 74-62 victory over Louisiana-Monroe at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. 

"I'm real excited for this group, because we struggled early in our non-conference season," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  "The fact that we have been able to get off to such a great start in the conference schedule says a lot for their resilience and fortitude."

With the win, USA improves to 11-6 overall 6-0 in the conference.  The Jags will now return home to host in-state rival Troy on Saturday.  Tip-off is set for 5:05 p.m.at the Mitchell Center.  Louisiana-Monroe falls to 7-10 on the year and 1-6 in the Sun Belt. 

Gaines was 6-of-10 from the field and did most of her damage at the free throw line.  The sophomore guard attacked the basket and got to the charity stripe 12 times, converting 10 of those opportunities.  Along with Gaines, Nettles also finished in double-figures with 14 points, while Christian Shelter and Siedah Banks chipped in with nine and eight points, respectively.

ULM was paced by three players - Elizabeth Torres, Sannisha Williams and Larrie Williams - who each had 12 points apiece.

As a team, USA shot a season-best 52 percent from the floor, hitting 26 of its 50 attempts from the floor.  The Jags also held a huge advantage at the foul line, connecting on 17 of their 23 attempts, while the Warhawks were just 5-of-8.

South Alabama came out on fire during the first 13-plus minutes of the game connecting on 12 of its first 19 attempts.  ULM on the other hand struggled to find its shooting touch during that same stretch as the Warhawks were just five for their first 20.  With the Jags holding a 12-8 advantage seven-and-a-half minutes into the contest, USA erupted for an 18-2 run over the next six minutes to take 30-10 lead on a Vannessa Simmons jumper a step inside the three-point line in the right corner at the 6:39 mark.  Gaines, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week, led the way during the Jaguar scoring spurt, recording eight of her team-high 11 first half points.

"I was pleased with the readiness that we showed to start the game," Pietri said.  "I was a little concerned coming into the game, because of the way we approached practice yesterday, but today we started the game ready.  We got off to a good lead and relaxed a little bit.  (Louisiana-Monroe) stepped up their energy level and competed with us for the rest of the game.  Fortunately, we built enough of a lead that we were able to keep them at arm's length the rest of the way."

During the run, Louisiana-Monroe was just 1-for-6 from the field, while the Jaguar defense caused the Warhawks to commit six of their 13 first half turnovers.

USA grabbed its largest lead of the half less than a minute later on another Simmons bucket that gave the Jags a 32-11 advantage. 

Following the Simmons basket, Louisiana-Monroe's Jesse Carrier drained a three-pointer from the left wing with five minutes, 59 seconds remaining in the half to ignite a 13-3 run.  With less than a minute to go in the half, Sumar Leslie drove the right side of the lane for a layup to trim the deficit to cap off the run and cut the deficit to 11 (35-24).  That margin is where the two clubs would stand as they headed into the locker room with the Jags holding a 37-26 lead.

Coming out of the intermission, Louisiana-Monroe was able to hang around over a majority of the second half and got as close as nine (56-47) after Larrie Williams' jumper at the 9:18 mark.  Gaines had the answer for the Jags though and posted six of USA's next nine points to extend the lead back out to 65-49 with seven-and-a-half minutes to go in the game.  During that time, Nettles also drained one of her two treys on the evening.  ULM was only able to get as close as 12 the rest of the way, including the final margin of victory for the Jags.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTES:  The 6-0 start to Sun Belt Conference play marks the first time in the program's history that a South Alabama team has done so.  The win for the Jags is also the sixth-straight win and eighth out of their last nine.  With her two three-pointers against the Warhawks, South Alabama's Shakira Nettles moved past former Jag Qiana Mitchell for second place on the all-time career three-point list.  The 22 points by Tashley Gaines was a new career-high and eclipsed her previous mark of 20 set a week ago versus Western Kentucky.  It is also her seventh double-figure game of the season.

-- USA --