JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team (3-2) defeated North Florida (3-3) 62-55 in its first game of the Jacksonville Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon at Historic Swisher Gym.  After the game was tied 12-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars went on a 13-0 run and never relinquished the lead.
 
"I thought we started the game nip and tuck," said head coach Terry Fowler.  "We were then able to get a good lead, and then North Florida finished the first half on a 9-0 run.  I was really proud of our kids because they kept fighting and grinding. The coaching staff told them afterwards that in the long run this is who we are.  We're not going to be winning many games by large margins unless it's a night where almost all of our shots are falling in.  So three-possession games are the ones you have to win. It was a solid win on the road with us doing so. We made free throws down the stretch and got the stops we needed to. I think we're starting to find our identity, and our kids are buying into that's who we are."
 
The Ospreys were able to make it a one-possession game with less than five minutes left in the game after hitting three three-pointers in the fourth quarter.  The Jaguars responded with a 6-0 run with layups by Erin Autio and Genesis Perrymond and a pair of free throws by Chyna Ellis for a 55-46 lead with 2:37 left in the game.  The Jaguars maintained at least a two-possession lead the rest of the way.
 
The Jaguars' last seven points came on free throws to preserve the lead for a victory.  Colby Davis made all four of her attempts at the line and went 9-9 in the entire game.  Overall the Jags went 19-24 (79.2%) at the line with Ellis going 8-11 and Perrymond 2-4.
 
"We took care of the basketball, especially late in the game," said Fowler.  "Like the New Orleans' win we were able to make clutch free throws with not much time left and us holding onto a lead.  We were also securing rebounds.  They went to a press, and we were able to get to our press offense without turning it over at all."
 
South Alabama had the lead for over 31 minutes of the game.  After a first quarter that went back and forth, the Jaguars got hot from behind the three-point line to start the second quarter.  Ellis opened the quarter with a pair of free throws, and Candice Williams knocked down a three in the next possession.  After Davis made two free throws she then hit her first three of the game off a pass by Williams.  Savannah Jones then capped the run with a three of her own on another dish by Williams.
 
"The key for Colby is to be aggressive," said Fowler.  "She's a driver and then was able to make a couple three's in that key run in the second quarter.  The thing about that is she's not what you would label as a great three-point shooter.  However her selection is usually solid, and she'll make a good amount of the three's as a result."
 
North Florida's Simone Brown stopped the team's scoring drought with a jumper three and a half minutes into the quarter, but Davis then converted a three-point play after getting fouled on a layup that gave the Jags a 14-point lead, their biggest of the game.  The Ospreys responded with a 9-0 run to only trail by five at halftime.
 
The first half of the third quarter went back and forth until North Florida's Tesh Hanson made a three point play after getting fouled on a jumper in the lane.  Leading just 35-32 with 5:30 left in the quarter, the Jags limited the Ospreys to just one point the rest of the quarter.  Ellis had a three-point play that made it a two-possession game.  After another made free throw by Hanson, Ellis made a layup on the next possession.  Davis gave the Jags a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter on a runner in the lane with less than a minute left.
 
Ellis and Davis both had 16 points.  Davis had four rebounds, three assists and a game-high two steals while Ellis had seven boards and tied for a game-high two blocks.
 
"Chyna was aggressive once again, but I thought we started really looking into her in the post," said Fowler.  "We started focusing on the game plan and saw some things that were advantageous for her.  She certainly was able to go out and execute that."
 
Williams led the Jags with four assists in addition to six points on two three-pointers.  Autio tied Ellis for a team-high seven rebounds and also had nine points.  Coming off the bench Jones went 3-6 from behind the three-point line for nine points, and also Shaforia Kines had two points and three rebounds.
 
The Jags finished with 21-13 turnover advantage and had 12 assists.  Off 11 offensive rebounds South Alabama was able to get 14 second chance points.  The Jags ended the game shooting 32.1 % (18-56) from the field and 31.8% (7-22) from behind the three-point line.
 
South Alabama will face the host of the tournament Jacksonville tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. C.T.
 
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).