MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team outscored Auburn-Montgomery in all four quarters to win its lone exhibition of the 2016-17 season 71-44 on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center.  Four Jaguars scored at least 10 points, including a double-double by junior center Chyna Ellis (16 points and 11 rebounds).
 
Ellis had four offensive rebounds to go along with a pair of assists, steals and blocks.  Marquita Daniels scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half and had a game-high four steals.  Junior forward LaNeetra Guillory blocked a game-high four shots and had 11 points while Erin Autio had 10 points with two three-point field goals made.
 
Auburn-Montgomery had the lead for the first eight minutes of the game and jumped out to a 7-2 advantage by making three of its first four shots, but South Alabama ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run and never relinquished its lead.  Fourth-year head coach Terry Fowler was glad his club was able to overcome a slow start and execute the game plan efficiently the rest of the game.
 
"First of all it was really good to win," Fowler said. "We try to tell the kids to always enjoy winning and to not take it for granted.  I thought we started the game a little shaky, which I expected that we were full of nerves and jitters. Then, I thought we settled down. I was very pleased with the second quarter defensive effort. I think we outscored them 17-6 in that quarter. We were really able to execute. Our top seven, eight kids really settled down and executed so I was pleased with that. We just have to build off of that and be ready to go next week."
 
"You put on the uniform, get out in front of a crowd, get under the lights and get those jitters out. That's why it's important for us to play an exhibition game. We had a scrimmage earlier and then you come to an exhibition and you get that game feel. First of all, I want to thank our crowd. People came out tonight and that was great. We're looking forward to seeing them when we return later this month."
 
The Jaguars took over the game in the second quarter.  After a three-pointer by Auburn-Montgomery's Kaylan Withrow tied the game up at 18-18 two minutes into the second quarter, the Jaguars shut out the Warhawks the rest of the half and ended the quarter on a 13-0 run.  After a made free throw by Daniels, Autio hit back-to-back three pointers.  Ellis capped the run with two-straight layups and a jumper in the paint with a minute left.  The Jaguars' defense forced the Warhawks into five turnovers and only two made field goals in 19 attempts in the second quarter.
 
South Alabama outscored Auburn-Montgomery 25-13 in the third quarter, and lead by at least 20 points for the last 12 minutes of the game.  The Jaguars had a balanced scoring attack with eight players making baskets, and none of the eight had more than four points.  Once again the Jaguars ended the quarter on a shutout run, this time a 9-0 scoring advantage in the last four minutes.  The Jaguars forced the Warhawks to miss six-straight shots and turn over the ball twice.
 
The Jaguars started the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run and forced the Warhawks to a four-minute scoring drought to take a 32-point lead, their largest lead of the game.  The two teams traded baskets the rest of the way to the final score of 71-44.
 
The aggressive attack by the Jaguars allowed them to take 16 free throw attempts while Auburn-Montgomery only had two.  South Alabama had a 53-45 rebounding advantage, including 23 offensive boards.  Of the 21 Warhawks' turnovers, 15 were steals by the Jaguars that allowed them to have 15 fast break points.  The biggest disparity in the game was South Alabama outscoring Auburn-Montgomery 42-10 in the paint.  The four post players of USA-freshman forward Kennedi Centers (seven points), Guillory, Autio and Ellis-combined for 44 points, 21 rebounds and eight blocks.
 
Auburn-Montgomery was led by Nadia Stewart's 10 points, and Stewart was a perfect 4-4 on field goal attempts which included two three-pointers.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Genesis Perrymond dished out a game-high four assists and also had two steals and five rebounds.
 
The third all-time meeting against Auburn-Montgomery was the first between the two schools since the 1989-90 season.  The Jaguars have now won 17-straight exhibition games.
 
USA will next open up the 2016-17 regular season when the Jaguars travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to face #20/24 Florida next Friday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.  The game will broadcasted on the SEC Network, and live audio and stats 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.
 
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).