STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of South Alabama's women's basketball team (6-7, 1-1) won its Sun Belt Conference road-opener 55-46 against Georgia Southern (4-9, 0-2) on Thursday night at Hanner Fieldhouse.  Trailing by one point with 3:12 left in the game, the Jaguars went on a 9-1 run to secure the victory.
 
"I was really pleased with our effort," said head coach Terry Fowler.  "One thing I wanted to see from the team was win the rebounding battle.  We did so by 18 boards and also got 19 offensive rebounds.  I thought that was a big plus for us since we got a lot of extra possessions, and we dominated on the other end of the floor as well with rebounding."
 
In a back and forth game the Jags entered the fourth quarter leading 38-34, and Erin Autio and Colby Davis stretched the lead to eight points on two jumpers in the first two possessions of the quarter.  The Eagles responded with a 9-0 run that was over five minutes long to reclaim the lead.
 
Autio hit a jump shot to start the late Jags' run and give them the lead for good.  Autio then made a layup on the next possession off an offensive rebound.  Georgia Southern's Angel McGowan split a pair of free throws, and Chyna Ellis made a layup after gathering up her own missed shot with 1:24 remaining.  Camryn London converted a three-point play on a pass by Genesis Perrymond on a two-on-one fast break with 47 seconds left.  The Jags would only allow one more Eagles' basket, and Autio and London both hit a pair of free throws to ice the game.
 
"Down the stretch we really rebounded the ball well to get second chance opportunities down the stretch," said Fowler.  "We forced Georgia Southern into some tough, contested shots and then finished the game strong by hitting all of our foul shots late."
 
Entering the second half leading 29-28 Candice Williams hit a jumper on the second possession of the third quarter.  Georgia Southern got back the lead with a quick 6-2 run.  The Jags ended the quarter on a 7-2 run, allowing just one Eagles' basket in the last 6:26 of the quarter.  London started the run with a layup, and Ellis got the lead back for the Jags on a jumper.  Ellis then made one of two free throw attempts in the next possession, and London hit a jumper on the Jags' final possession of the quarter.

Colby Davis scored on a jumper in the first possession of the game and then made a layup.  Autio hit a three-pointer in the next trip down on the offensive end to give the Jags a 7-2 run to start the game.  The Eagles then went on a 9-2 run to get their first lead of the game.
 
The two teams traded baskets in the second quarter as the lead changed seven times. London made a layup for the Jags' first basket of the quarter.  Perrymond hit two three-pointers, and London also made a three.  Ellis made a layup with one second remaining in the half to give South Alabama the lead going into halftime.
 
London had her first ever double-digit scoring game with a game-high 17 points on 6-14 shooting that included two three-pointers.  Ellis recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds and also had a team-high three blocks.  Autio also had 11 points and needed just more rebound for her own double-double.
 
"Since Georgia Southern plays a 2-3 zone the coaching staff knew Camryn London was going to have opportunities to score," said Fowler.  "When we recruited her, she already had the ability to knock down shots and just play with a lot of freedom.  Tonight she just played loose and free with confidence to give the team a much-needed boost."
 
Davis had a team-high three steals in addition to eight points, three rebounds and an assist.  Perrymond had a game-high three assists and had six points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
The Jaguars took advantage of the Eagles' zone defense and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.  South Alabama had nine more second chance points (16-7) and won the rebounding battle (51-33).
 
South Alabama finished 33.3% (21-63) from the field and 18.5% (5-27) from deep with all five three's coming in the first half.  The Jags shot a season-high 88.9% (8-9) from the charity stripe and made all five attempts in the last two minutes of action.
 
South Alabama heads to Atlanta to face Georgia State on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT.
 
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your our ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.
 
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).