MOBILE, Ala. – Senior center Chyna Ellis became the all-time leader in Sun Belt Conference history in blocks and recorded her first-career triple-double as she led the University of South Alabama women's basketball team (12-5, 5-1 SBC) past the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10-8, 4-3 SBC), 68-62. Ellis passed Denver's Kaetlyn Murdoch, who had 279, for the all-time lead in blocks.
 
Ellis recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks for her triple-double, the first for the women's basketball program since Adrian Vickers had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 16 steals on Dec. 27, 1989 at Florida International. The center's 10 blocks were a career-high, broke the record for most by a women's basketball player at the Mitchell Center, previously held by Genevieve Delk with eight. Her 10 blocks were also a part of a program-record 14 in a game, the previous record of 12 was done three-times.

Savannah Jones scored a team-high 17 points on the evening. The redshirt freshman guard went 6-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Genesis Perrymond was a part of a trio of Jaguars to score double-digit points with 11. The senior guard had a 4-for-12 shooting night and made three three-pointers, the first of which was the 100th made three-point bucket of her career. Perrymond grabbed four rebounds, assisted on four buckets, rejected two shots and had two takeaways.
 
Erin Autio and Shaforia Kines each recorded nine points on the evening. Autio went 3-for-4 on three-point attempts, while Kines shot 4-of-7 from the field and had a game-high six helpers.
 
Antoinette Lewis collected eight points, going 6-of-8 at the charity-stripe, and brought down four rebounds.
 
The Jag defense held Jas Adams, the second leading scorer in the Sun Belt, to just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting. Adams came into the game averaging a shade over 18 per contest. DJ Williams filled the void scoring 29 on 11-of-21 shooting, making 7-of-10 free-throws, and came up one rebound short of a double-double.
 
GAME FACTS
- The Jags came out swinging in the first quarter with 30 points.
- South Alabama shot 11-of-16 from the field in the opening quarter, making 6-of-7 from beyond the arc, and holding Coastal Carolina to just 14 points.
- USA continued its dominance over CCU in the second. Ellis drained a three at the buzzer to give South Alabama its largest lead of the game, 21 points.
- The Chanticleers were not going down without a fight as they outscored the Jags 19-6 in the third and cut the Jag lead to eight.
- Coastal got as close as four with 1:36 remaining in the game, but a Kines jumper and a pair of made free-throws down the stretch by Jones iced the game for South Alabama.
- USA was outrebounded by CCU 50-37, however, the Jags took the defensive glass 31-30.
- CCU turned 20 offensive boards into 11 second-chance points.
- Coastal dominated the paint 32-16, while South Alabama dominated bench points 27-11.
- USA scored 20 points off 17 Chanticleer turnovers.
- The Jags held CCU to just one made three-pointer on seven attempts, the fewest made by an opponent this season.
 
NOTES
- Tonight was head coach Terry Fowler's 51st win at South Alabama.
- The Jags are 8-2 at home this season.
- USA is on a four-game win-streak at home and a current win-streak of three games.
- Jones has recorded 10 or more points in nine of her last 10 games.
- Perrymond collected her fifth game of 10 or more points during the current campaign.
- Ellis has 286 career-block and has had 10 or more points in 11 of her last 12 games.
- The triple-double was fourth in program history, with other three accomplished by Vickers, Ella Williams in 1988 and Annette Williams in 1985.
- Jones has now made 39 three-pointers this season, the second most by a freshman in program history.
- The mark of 12-5 is the best record for the program since the 2007-08 and 2008-09 squads possessed the same record.
- USA's 5-1 SBC record is the best since the 2009-10 team started SBC play 7-0.
- South Alabama is 11-2 when scoring 60 or more points this season.

THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "At the start of the game I was really pleased with our focus and the effort we had, we really shot the ball well and were good on the defensive end of the floor. In the second half I thought we came out the first five minutes a little lethargic, we didn't have the urgency we needed, and they took advantage of that. But at the end of the day we were able to hold onto the lead and were able to finish it off. At 5-1 in league play I couldn't be more excited for us."
 
On Chyna Ellis: "It's been great, she and I have had conversations. Chyna has really matured, that's growing up and being a senior. She has taken giant steps on and off the floor. We expected this when we recruited her, we couldn't be happier for her and proud of her. She has done a lot of things, but the main thing is she has been about the team."
 
Senior C Chyna Ellis
On her performance in the game: "As far as scoring I was feeling good and my teammates were giving me the ball, just having confidence that I can score. The blocks just happened, they came to me and I went and got them."
 
On if she was thinking about setting the Sun Belt Conference blocks record: "Not really, I knew what the number was but I was just playing defense and trying to help the team."
 
On the team's start in Sun Belt Conference play: "We're happy and we're on a roll, it's a good start to conference play. If we keep building on this and keep playing how we have been nobody can beat us."
 
On what motivates her: "My baby girl, and trying to be there for the team. I'm a senior, I am just trying to do my part to help us get to our goals."
 
Senior G Genesis Perrymond
On holding off Coastal Carolina's second-half challenge: "The team is playing really well, we're playing together and we're playing very unselfish basketball; we're sharing the ball really well.  I remember at the start of the half I looked at Sha[foria Kines] and said we have 12 assists on 16 made baskets, that's awesome.  We play well together and have great chemistry, and even though they did have a good run and came back we stuck together."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars look to build on their three-game win-streak as they close out a three-game homestand against Appalachian State. Opening tip is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
 
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—