MOBILE, Ala. – Led by 22 points from senior Chyna Ellis, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team (9-4, 2-0) defeated Georgia Southern (3-10, 0-2), 79-52, to close out 2017 and the opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference play. This is the first time since the 2013-14 season the Jags have started 2-0 in SBC action.
 
Ellis shot 9-of-13 from the field, including making all three of her three-point attempts and her lone free-throw, en route to the 22-point night. The center also grabbed six boards and had a trio of assists and rejections on the evening. This was Ellis' sixth game this season with three or more blocks.
 
Savannah Jones collected 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-3 on three point buckets. The redshirt freshman guard also brought down six boards, while recording two assists, a steal and a block. Jones has had nine games with 10 or more points, including five of the last seven contests.
 
Antoinette Lewis scored 11 points, her second game of 10 or more points this season, to close out a trio of Jag double-digit scorers. The freshman forward made four of her seven shot attempts and went 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. Lewis also collected five rebounds and a rejection.
 
Shaforia Kines recorded a game-high six assists, while scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including a three-pointer. The sophomore guard also had five rebounds and a takeaway.
 
The Eagles's lone double-digit scorer was Hailey Dias-Allen, who had 12 points on a 5-of-15 shooting night.
 
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama came out strong hitting its first four three-pointers with the last three being part of an 18-0 run.
- USA scored 32 points while shooting 12-of-18 from the field, 66.7 percent, and lead the Eagles by 17 after the opening quarter.
- The Jags continued their dominance in the second outscoring Georgia Southern 19-9.
- India Hall made three-straight layups to give South Alabama a 14-0 run late in the second quarter, giving the Jags their largest lead of the game at 51-20.
- USA's run was broken up by the Eagles with four seconds left as they made pair of free-throws and a layup to end the half.
- USA shot a season-best 60.6 percent in the first-half as it led GS 51-24, with the 51 points being the most scored in a half this season.
- The second-half saw the Jaguars keep the Eagles at bay as they went point-for-point with each squad scoring 15 and 13 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
- USA dominated the paint and scoring off the bench as it out scored GS 40-18 and 38-20 in each category.
- South Alabama recorded 51 rebounds and 23 assists, both season-highs.
- The Jags were 4-for-4 from the charity-stripe while the Eagles shot 14-of-20 from the free-throw line.
 
NOTES
- The Jags' 32 points in the first quarter were the most scored by the team in any quarter this season besting a mark of 28. They reached 28 twice this season with the last time occurring at Southern Miss in the fourth quarter on Nov. 30.
- South Alabama grabbed 50 or more rebounds as a team for the first time since Jan. 5, 2017, at Georgia Southern.
- USA is now 3-3 in day games.
- South Alabama has won five games this season by 20 or more points.
- The Jags are 8-1 when they score 60 or more points, including 5-0 when scoring 70 or more.
- Ellis' 22 points was her fourth game this season with 20 or more points, including her 11th game 10 or more points this season.
- The senior needs 17 more points to become just the 19th Jag in program history with 1,000 or more points in a career and 15 blocks to become all-time leader in SBC history.
- No Jag starter played more than 21 minutes and none saw action in the fourth quarter.
- Freshman Casey Ferguson made first-career basket as a Jaguar on a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, and grabbed a career-high three rebounds.
 
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "I thought we came out and got off to a great start, and that set the tone for the rest of the game.  The shooting became contagious, we passed the ball and shared it, we worked inside and outside, I thought that was the big key.  They just started feeding off each other, it was a lot of fun out there when that was going on."
 
On the team's fast start: "It's awesome, and the thing about it is it is not like that before the game.  I'm concerned if we are taking teams lightly, but they are just focused.  Right before the game they really feed off each other with energy and that carried over as the ball was going in the basket.  It was not just the ball going in the basket, it was how we were moving the ball and really sharing it.  We always talk about the ball having energy, when everybody gets the chance to touch the ball everybody picks up and wants to play on the defensive end of the floor so it is two-fold."
 
On maintaining the advantage after the fast start: "I thought we rebounded the ball — we dominated the glass — and we were able to get the ball inside in the second half, we got some good high-low looks to start out the third quarter.  The big key was we went from shooting it outside to getting easy layups, and we finished it out on the defensive end of the floor."
 
On going on the road after winning the first two Sun Belt Conference games: "We had to take care of home court, that's always the goal. We have confidence and the way we are playing with each other, we are not dependent on one person, we can get it from different combinations on any given night. That's what is a lot of fun, and they understand as well that maybe it's not my night but someone else is going to pick up my slack."
 
Senior C Chyna Ellis
On team's start in the game: "We were passing the ball, the ball had energy.  After seeing one person make it, then another person make it, and another person — I think we hit four in a row — it was just contagious, we were ready to see the next person make it.  We were sharing the ball and having fun."
 
On the team's confidence level: "I think we are the most confident that we have ever been, I feel that this is the best team that we've had since I've been here as far as chemistry, having fun and playing well with each other."
 
Freshman F/C Antoinette Lewis
On the team when it plays well early: "It's a lot of fun.  We get up on the bench and go crazy when you see people making shot after shot, assist after assist.  It's a lot of fun to see us get along that well."
 
On the atmosphere in the locker room: "We're all playing around and dancing, normally the last person to walk into the locker room has to dance.  That's just how we show our excitement."
 
UP NEXT
The Jags travel to San Marcos, Texas, to take on Texas State in their first SBC road contest of the season. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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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—USA—