Game 10 • South Alabama Jaguars (9-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. New Mexico State Aggies (6-3, 0-0 WAC)
December 20, 2018 • 1:00 p.m. (CST) • Ocean Bank Convocation Center • MIAMI, Fla.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Terry Fowler, (Lane [Tenn.], '86)
Record at USA: 69-92, 35-59 SBC (6)
Overall: 276-270 (20)
vs. New Mexico State: —
New Mexico State
Brooke Atkinson (Wichita State, '03)
at New Mexico State: 24-18 (2)
Overall: 24-18 (2)
vs. South Alabama: --
LAST GAME
The University of South Alabama women's basketball team improved to 9-0 on the season with a 97-40 win over the Faulkner Eagles on Monday night at the Mitchell Center.
With 11 players recording a point and five scoring in double-digits, it's safe to say the Jaguars 97-point night was a total team effort. Jala Buster and Alexis Sykes recorded new career-highs in points, Devyn Lowe recorded the first points of her career, the bench accounted for 45 points, and the field contributed for a season-high 22 assists.
Sykes used an electric fourth quarter to lead the way with 17 points for the Jaguars. Sykes shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the fourth to finish in double figures for the first time in her career.
Antoinette Lewis continued to show her dominance down low for the Jaguars. The reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week contributed to the win with 14 points and eight rebounds. Lewis shot 7-of-11 from the field and led the Jags in rebounding for the fifth time this season.
MULTIMEDIA
Radio: 99.5 The Jag FM
Live Stats: USAJaguars.com
Live Audio: USAJaguars.com
Live Video: USAJaguars.com
SERIES NOTES
South Alabama and New Mexico State have met a total of 10 times, all coming when New Mexico State was a member of the Sun Belt from 2000-2005. The Jags are 8-2 in those matchups and have won five in a row over the Aggies. Most recently, South beat New Mexico State 50-48 on Feb. 10, 2005 at the Mitchell Center.
OPENING TIP
South Alabama (9-0) is coming off a 97-40 win over the Faulkner Eagles Monday Night at the Mitchell Center.
The 9-0 start for the Jaguars is the first for the program since the 1984-85 season when they opened the year with a 12-0 mark, while the nine-game win streak is tied for the fifth best win streak in a single season.
The 97-point effort is the most points recorded by South in a game since Dec. 7, 2011 in a 97-48 win over Spring Hill, while the 57-point margin is the seventh highest in program history.
11 Jaguars made the score sheet and five scored in double-figures for the second time this season. Alexis Sykes is coming off a career-best 17 points. Sykes went 4-for-5 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter to drop 12 in the final quarter.
Lewis dropped 14 points and brought in eight rebounds, leading the team in rebounds for the fifth time this season. Lewis leads the Jags in scoring with 14.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, and ranks third among all of division-one NCAA players with a .730 field-goal percentage.
Shaforia Kines is averaging 13.5 points per game and has started all eight games she has been active for. Kines leads the Jags with 19 three-pointers made and is shooting .424 from the floor.
Freshman, Damaya Telemaque leads the Jags with 33 assists and is averaging 11.9 points per game. After coming off the bench in the Jags first game against Spring Hill, Telemaque has started the last eight.
New Mexico State (6-3) is coming off a 67-65 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Playing out of the WAC, the Aggies are averaging 65.9 points per game while allowing their opponents to score 61.4.
NEXT GAME
Game 11 • South Alabama Jaguars (9-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Alcorn State (1-8, 0-0 SWAC) or Florida International (2-8, 0-0 C-USA) • December 21, 2018 • 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. (CST) • Ocean Bank Convocation Center • MIAMI, Fla.
The draw for this game depends on the outcome of the two games that will be played on the first day of the tournament.
THEY SAID IT
HEAD COACH TERRY FOWLER
On opponents this week: "New Mexico state is a WNIT team last year. They are really talented, they press you, and they get after you. They pose a lot of different problems for us that we will have to get adjusted to. Then we get Alcorn State or FIU, we will get a chance to scout them live and see what they can do. It's a great tournament; looking forward to it."
On using these games to prepare for the upcoming conference schedule: "With back-to-back games, the quick turnaround will help us with preparation for conference play. With the exception that you have one game in between during conference play, but it gets you in a conference mind frame. Not only that, but it helps to have the experience during the conference tournament as well."
On taking the trip to Miami: "Anytime you go on the road it's a team bonding opportunity. We always try to take our team on one good trip each season. We come down here and get a quality opponent, and get a chance to be in a place that a lot of our kids haven't been before. Do a little sight-seeing, but we will prepare, and then break for Christmas. It's a great way to end the non-conference season."
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).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join vis-it: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—
