JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of South Alabama
women's basketball team fell to No. 20/24 Florida 85-33 on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Arena in the season-opener for both teams. The 32 turnovers by the Jaguars allowed the Gators to outscore them in all four quarters.
"All of the things we talked about, they Florida did," said head coach Terry Fowler. "We talked about transition baskets; they did that. Offensive boards, they did that. Those things are hard to defend."
Florida jumped out to a 12-2 lead six minutes into the game and never looked back. South Alabama only made two of 16 field goals in the entire first quarter, including 0-4 from three-point. The Jaguars had nine turnovers and no assists in the quarter, and Florida was able to capitalize off the turnovers with nine points off turnovers and six fast break points for a 19-4 lead. Junior forward LaNeetra Guillory had the first bucket that tied the game up 2-2 in the third minute, and redshirt-sophomore Genesis Perrymond hit a pull-up jumper in the lane with three minutes left for the only other basket.
The Gators began the second quarter on an 8-1 run in almost four minutes. After a three-point field goal by freshman guard Savannah Jones, South Alabama was outscored by only one point (8-7) the rest of the quarter. Redshirt-sophomore forward Erin Autio banked in a three-point field goal for her second of the night just before the buzzer went off to end the half with Florida up 37-15.
Florida started the third quarter with a double-digit run once again, this time an 18-0 run in a seven-minute span. The Jaguars were plagued by turnovers during the shutout run by the Gators, committing nine that limited them to just five field goal attempts. South Alabama was able to go on a run afterwards, scoring the next nine points in the game. Senior guard Colby Davis got the Jags on the scoreboard in the quarter with two free throws, and junior center Chyna Ellis added another two free throws on the next possession. Redshirt-sophomore Candice Williams scored her first career points as a Jaguar with on a runner just outside the right block. Jones finished the run on a three-pointer, her second of the game.
Beginning the last quarter up 62-27 Florida outscored South Alabama 23-9 in the fourth. The two teams traded baskets to begin the quarter with Williams hitting a free throw, Daniels making a jumper and Perrymond adding a three-pointer. The Gators ended the game on an 18-2 run.
"I think we got open shots," said Fowler. "With their speed, they rushed us. They really bothered us and we never got over the hump. We have to learn from this one and be ready to move forward because it's a quick recovery time."
South Alabama finished with just four assists to the 32 turnovers compared to 23 assists and 21 turnovers by Florida. Florida finished with 22 fast break points and 36 points off turnovers. The Gators also outrebounded the Jaguars 47-31 and had a 20-9 steals advantage.
The Jags finished the game 10-51 (19.6%) from the field, 4-13 (30.8%) from three and 9-12 (75%) at the line.
Jones led the Jags with six points, and Perrymond, Autio and Williams also had five points each. Ellis led the squad on the boards with six, including two on the offensive end. Davis tied Ellis with four defensive boards to tie for the team lead.
All four freshmen on the squad- guards Shaforia Kines, Camryn London and Jones and forward Kennedi Centers- made their collegiate debuts off the bench. Kines hit a jumper in the fourth quarter, London had a steal and Centers had a rebound.
South Alabama will head south of Jacksonville to Orlando to face UCF on Sunday. Tipoff will be at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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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