Box Score - South Alabama 64, Spring Hill 49 (.pdf)Post Game QuotesPhoto GalleryMOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team controlled the glass Tuesday night as it opened up the 2015-16 season with a 64-49 victory over Spring Hill at the Mitchell Center. The Jaguars held a 43-29 advantage over the Badgers in that category and also dominated the paint, outscoring the visitors 40-14.
"Rebounding was key for us tonight," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "I had rebound written on the board about 10 times. We just talked about rebounding the basketball, and we dominated the glass 43 to 28. (Spring Hill) is a really good offensive rebounding team, and they started the game out doing that exactly. Then we were able to shut it down from there. I was excited to see us get on the boards with multiple people. Our guards had six rebounds, Taylor Jenkins had six rebounds and Chyna Ellis had her usual double-double.
"I thought we played a good first quarter, and I think in the second quarter we went away from the game plan a little bit. We changed a few things and that's on me a little bit. We just didn't get the ball inside. I thought in the fourth quarter, we really picked it up and shut them down on the defensive end, but Spring Hill is a scrappy bunch. They'll do well when they get into conference play. We've got to move on to prepare for Southern right now."
USA (1-0) will now head out on the road as the Jaguars travel to Baton Rouge, La., to take on Southern on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Live stats and web streaming for the contest can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Fans can also keep up with in-match updates by following action on the program's twitter account @SouthALWBB.
The sophomore duo of Chyna Ellis and Marquita Daniels led the way for South Alabama in the victory. Ellis recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting. She also had a pair of blocks and a steal. Daniels also had 14 points on the night, connecting on four of her 12 attempts. Daniels was a perfect 6-of-6 at the foul line though and also added four assists and three steals in 34 minutes of action.
Genesis Perrymond also ended the night in double figures with 11 points, while Juliann Miller had eight points as she knocked down three of her four shot attempts and both of her free-throw opportunities.
Spring Hill was paced by Leah Washington's 10 points. Camry Johnson added nine points of her own and Jennifer Clark chipped in with eight.
The Jaguars were 24-of-57 from the field for 42.1 percent and held the Badgers to just 28.3 percent shooting as they were just 15-for-53. USA also held Spring Hill to 18.2 percent shooting in the second half and just four made field goals.
Spring Hill scored on its first possession of the contest, but following Washington's bucket at the 9:29 mark, the Badgers would hit just one of their next 11 shot attempts and turn the ball over five times.
South Alabama took advantage during that stretch and ran off a 16-4 run over a five-plus minute stretch. Daniels led the way during the run scoring six of her eight first-period points during the Jag run.
Miller got the scoring going when the senior guard drove the left side of the lane for a layup on the Jaguars second possession of the game. Perrymond and Ellis then followed with a basket each on USA's next two trips. Daniels later capped off the scoring with back-to-back buckets. The first came after the sophomore guard picked up a loose ball and outran the Badger defense for a layup at the 4:21 mark. With just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, Daniels added another basket to give South Alabama a double-digit lead at 16-6.
Spring Hill finally found its shooting touch in the closing minutes, but the Jaguars still held the lead at the end of the first 10 minutes of action, 22-14.
After shooting 42.1 percent during the first period of play, South Alabama struggled offensively for the first seven minutes of the second quarter. USA was only able to connect on just one of its first nine shots in the period with five turnovers.
The Badgers clawed their way back during the Jaguars' struggles and cut the deficit to two (25-23) after a three-pointer from the left wing by Derrica Chambers at the 4:25 mark and an offensive putback by Johnson on Spring Hill's next possession.
The Jags would briefly regain momentum with a 6-0 run. Miller and Daniels each hit a pair of free throws and with a minute to go before the half, Daniels found Ellis open in the lane for a bucket to put USA up 31-23.
The Badgers answered back quickly with a trey by Sidney White and then again narrowed South Alabama's lead to two (31-29) when Johnson was fouled and converted the three-point play with 6.3 remaining. Johnson's basket was set up by a Jag turnover, their ninth of the game.
Daniels led all scorers with 10 first-half points as she was 3-of-7 from the field and 4-for-4 at the charity stripe.
South Alabama scored on first six possessions of the second half and played strong defense, forcing Spring Hill into a pair of misses and three turnovers. During that time, four different Jags got into the scoring column with Ellis recording three baskets.
Daniels dished out one of her four assists in the contest on USA's opening possession of the third period. Perrymond then followed with a jumper just inside the top of the arc. After a bucket by Miller, Ellis connected again with seven minutes, 18 seconds remaining to put USA up 39-29.
With South Alabama still holding a double-figure advantage with under six to play in the third, the Badgers rattled off a 9-2 run over the next minute-plus to trim the deficit to three. Johnson ignited the run with a bucket at the 5:36 mark and Clark drained a three from the left with four minutes, 22 seconds showing on the clock.
On the Jaguars' ensuing possession though, Perrymond connected from long range – USA's first three-pointer of the contest – to spark the offense. On South Alabama's next time down the floor, the Jags fed the post and went inside to freshman India Hall for a layup and after Washington's one-for-two showing at the foul line on SHC's next possession, Colby Davis drove the left baseline and put the ball off the glass for a basket to give South Alabama a 52-43 advantage with two minutes, 15 seconds remaining.
Spring Hill would again make a late charge with less than a minute to go in the period and cut USA's lead to six (52-46) heading to the final period of regulation.
South Alabama was hot from the floor during the third period of action, knocking down 10 of its 16 shoot attempts in the quarter for 62.5 percent.
After being held scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the second half, Daniels scored four quick points to begin the fourth. Daniels got to the foul line and knocked down a pair of free throws and then converted an acrobatic layup with eight minutes, 22 seconds showing on the clock to give USA a 56-46 advantage.
Defense would prove to be the key for the Jaguars in the fourth period of action as Spring Hill went 0-for-11 in the quarter and committed five turnovers. The Badgers only points of the period came at the charity stripe.
Now leading by double figures again, South Alabama held control the rest of the way and went on to take the 15-point win.
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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