Box Score - South Alabama 63, UL Monroe 57 (.pdf)

MONROE, La. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team fought its way back from an eight-point second=half deficit to pick up its third Sun Belt Conference win of the season, defeating UL Monroe, 63-57 Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The Jaguars (7-10, 3-5 SBC) will close out the three-game road swing Tuesday night when they travel to take on Troy.  Tip-off versus the Trojans is set for 5:15 p.m. at Trojan Arena.  Live stats and both audio and web streaming for the contest versus the Trojans can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.  Fans can also keep up with in-game updates by following action on the program's twitter account @SouthALWBB.

Marquita Daniels, bounced back from a two-point showing on Thursday night to lead the Jaguars with 15 points and a pair of steals.  Erin Autio came off the bench to record her fourth double figure outing of the season as she finished with 13 points.  Autio was 4-of-9 from the field with a pair of three-pointers and also knocked down three of her four attempts at the free-throw line.

"It was good to see Marquita have that type of game for us," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "Marquita played within herself today and didn't really force things.  She did a great job of taking advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves to her.  

"Erin opened up with a couple of big three-pointers early in the game and just continued to fight throughout the whole game.  She had a big basket for us late in the game when she made the left-handed drive down the lane.  She then sealed it up at the foul line with the free throw at the end."

USA also had four other player just miss double digits as Colby Davis had nine points and six rebounds, while Juliann Miller chipped in with nine.  Taylor Jenkins and Chyna Ellis ended the contest with eight and seven points, respectively.  Ellis also pulled down nine rebounds and recorded five blocks.  

"We had balanced scoring today and everyone contributed," Fowler said.  "Going into this trip with Genesis (Perrymond) out and everyone playing different roles, we told them that if we needed them, they needed to be ready when their number was called.  To be able to have a balanced scoring attack and not be dependent on one player was great for us tonight."

The sophomore now has 49 on the year and 105 for her career.  Her 49 blocks this season are tied with Shaniece Brunner (2008-09) for ninth-most in a single season.  The Cordova, Tenn., native also moved past former Jag LaSandra Jenkins' 10th-place single season mark in the game.  Ellis is now averaging 3.88 against Sun Belt competition and 2.88 on the year.

USA's Davis also dished out seven assists, which was one shy of tying a career best for the junior.  She also turned the ball over just once.  As a team, South Alabama had just nine turnovers, a season low for the club. 

UL Monroe dropped to 8-9 on the year and 2-6 in league action with the loss.  Alayshia Hunter led all scorers with 22 points – her second-straight 20-point outing and her seventh of the season.  Hunter was 9-for-21 from the field and also pulled down nine rebounds.  

Chelsea Tieuel also ended the game in double figures with 10 points.  Tieuel, who had had nine three-pointers in her last two outings, was held to just two against the Jags.  
Aundrea Davis and Daja Chase also had eight points apiece, while Chase led all players on the glass with 12 rebounds.  

South Alabama got off to a great start in the opening minutes, jumping out to an 8-0 lead two-and-a-half minutes into the game.  USA did it at both ends of the floor, hitting four of its first five shot attempts and recording two blocks and two steals.  South Alabama recorded five of its eight blocks in the game during the first 10 minutes of play.

The Jaguars extended their lead out to 13-4, four-and-a-half minutes into the opening quarter after Miller's three-pointer from the right wing.  Following Miller's bucket though, South Alabama would not score for the next four minutes.  

The Warhawks would take advantage during that stretch and chip away at the deficit, pulling within four at 13-9 on a jumper by Chase with one minute, 27 seconds remaining.

With less than 30 seconds to play in the first quarter, C. Davis would end USA's scoreless drought as she hit one of two at the foul line to give the Jags a 14-9 advantage.

ULM grabbed the momentum early on in the second quarter and tied the game back up at 16-16 on A. Davis' three-pointer from the right wing.  On the Warhawks' next possession, Andreanna Jackson gave the home team its first lead of the afternoon (19-16) with a trey of her own.

Trailing by three with five minutes remaining in the half, USA used the long-range shot to get back in the game.  Autio tied the contest back up with a three from the top of the key and then after a UL Monroe bucket, the redshirt freshman knocked down another three-pointer to give South Alabama a 26-25 advantage at the 3:48 mark.  

With two minutes, 39 seconds showing, Daniels – who was 4-for-7 from the floor with eight points during the first 20 minutes of action – knocked down a jumper and Miller then connected from long range on USA's next possession to put the Jaguars back out on top 30-27 with just under two to play in the quarter.

UL Monroe drained their third trey of the contest at the 1:36 mark to tie the contest back up at 30-30.  The three-pointer was A. Davis' second of the quarter.  That is where the two teams would head into the locker room as neither was able to score on their final two possessions of the half.  

After recording 12 first-half points, Hunter continued to power the Warhawks as the senior forward scored eight of ULM's first 10 points of the third.  Hunter gave UL Monroe a 40-32 advantage when she converted her second and-one play of the quarter.

With just over six minutes remaining in the quarter, Daniels would spark the Jaguars as her three-pointer from the left corner ignited a 13-5 run for South Alabama over a three-plus minute stretch.  Jenkins – who had six points during the run – gave South Alabama a 46-45 lead when C. Davis found the senior forward cutting to the basket for a layup with two minutes, 35 seconds showing on the clock in the third.

A minute later, UL Monroe reclaimed the lead on Chase's jumper and then extended its advantage out to five on Jackson's three-pointer with less than a minute to play in the quarter.

In the fourth, the Jaguars were able to keep it close over the first five minutes.  ULM held a two-point lead (54-52) with five minutes, three seconds remaining, but on USA's ensuing possession, C. Davis found Jenkins open for another layup.  South Alabama retook the lead a little over a minute later when Autio drove towards the basket for a layup of her own to put USA up 56-54.

UL Monroe's Tieuel answered with a three though to give the Warhawks a one-point advantage.  ULM had a chance on its next possession to stretch its lead out, but Ashley Aune was unable to convert either of her free throw attempts.  USA took advantage and after keeping its possession alive with an offensive rebound, Miller drained a jumper at the free throw line with two minutes, 31 seconds showing on the clock to put the Jags back out in front by one.

With under a minute to go, Miller caused a ULM turnover with a steal.  The Jaguars worked the clock and with the shot clock getting set to expire, C. Davis came off a screen at the top of the key and drained a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded, giving South Alabama a 61-57 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

"We were counting the shot clock down (on the bench) and Colby was doing everything she's supposed to work herself open for a look at the basket and create some space.  She then bounced behind that ball screen and made a great shot.  Her shot gave us some cushion and from that point on, it was just about getting stops (at the defensive end of the floor)."

ULM's Hunter was fouled on the Warhawk's ensuing possession with 16 seconds to play, but she would miss both attempts.  Ellis came down with the rebound for the Jaguars.  With UL Monroe forced to foul, South Alabama extended their lead out as Autio and Ellis both went one-of-two at the charity stripe in the closing seconds, sealing the six-point win for the Jaguars.

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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