MIAMI, Fla. - The University of South Alabama Women's basketball team fought off several lead changes to beat New Mexico State 68-67 on day one of the FIU Holiday Tournament at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Fla. 

With 2 seconds left in the game, Savannah Jones hit a massive three-pointer, got fouled, and nailed the free-throw to give the Jags their one-point advantage. Jones finished with 15 points and five rebounds, shooting 4-for-7 from behind the arc, including three-straight threes during the first half to lead the comeback. 

Antoinette Lewis continued to be a force down low for the Jaguars. Lewis put up 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds en route to posting her third double-double of the season, and sixth of her career. The sophomore forward from Memphis, Tenn., led both sides with four offensive rebounds. 

In the last seconds of the fourth quarter, with the Jags down two, Shaforia Kines stole the ball from New Mexico State's Dominique Mills and got fouled on the ensuing layup. Kines made 1-of-2 from the line and kept the Jags within one. Kines finished with a team-high 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists. 

The Jags improve to 10-0 on the season and have won their first 10 games of the year for the first time since starting 12-0 during the 1984-1985 season. 

GAME FACTS
-    Damaya Telemaque started her ninth game in a row for the Jaguars. The freshman guard finished with eight points, two rebounds, and two assists.
-    There were 13 lead changes in the game and seven ties. South Alabama's largest lead was four points, coming with two minutes left in the second, while New Mexico State held a seven-point advantage at the five-minute mark the third. 
-    New Mexico State's Brooke Salas, and Gia Pack led both teams with 18 points in the game, and combined to go 19-22 from the charity stripe.
-    South shot 36.4 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from three, and went 12-of-23 from the free-throw line. Todays game marked the first time this season the Jags have shot under 40 percent from the floor. 
-    As a team, the Aggies went 27-31 from the free-throw line, shot 32.1 percent from the floor, and connected on 20 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. 

NOTES
-    With the win, the Jags have now won ten-consecutive games in a single season for the fifth time in program history. This team is now tied with the 1983-1984 team for the fifth longest streak. 
-    The Jags were out-rebounded 49-41 by New Mexico State, the eight-point margin is the highest by an opponent vs. South this season. 
-    During the Fowler era at South, the Jags are 58-8 when leading with five minutes to go in the game. 
-    Lewis led the Jags in rebounding for the seventh time this season, while Kines led the team in scoring for the fourth time. Lewis remains the lone Jaguar to record a double-double this season.
-    This was the first time South has faced New Mexico State outside of Sun Belt Conference play; the Jags are now 9-2 against the Aggies. 
-    Coach Terry Fowler earned his 70th win at the helm of South Alabama women's team. 


THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "We have all the respect in the world for New Mexico State; they are a quality opponent and boy, they played a great game. We did not play well offensively in the first half. I thought in the second half we got better, but we got in foul trouble, played some different lineups but the kids kept fighting. That's one thing we always talk to them about, the games not over until the clock hits triple-zeroes and the horn blows. Get the ball, 19 seconds, we're down, Shaforia gets the steal and we just made play after play. Savanna's plays is as good as it gets. Great play all around, and she still has to make the free-throw to get the win, so awesome job by her." 

On facing and overcoming adversity: "From the beginning to the end, we had a chance. If we could ever go up four or six points and put some pressure on them, and instead they go up on us. But, our kids just kept fighting. It's one thing we talk about. The thing I was disappointed with, there was some head-hanging when we went down, we hadn't been in this position in a while. We had to pick it up, and then the bench stepped in and gave us the energy to the players on the floor. That made all the difference in the world, it just carried over and allowed us to make play after play." 

On Savannah and the game-winning shot: "Savannah she didn't have it going, and then all of sudden she goes on a tear. Boosting her confidence, all of our players, keep shooting the ball, shoot the ball, we have to like to shoot the ball. Let's give it to her, and then she started doing some things. She got aggressive with it. You can tell when she starts getting some confidence, she gives you some head fakes and then she's ready to shoot, to make tough shots. 

Savannah Jones 
On hitting three-threes in a row: "Confidence starts with my teammates and coaches believing in me. They set me up with good opportunities to score, I have confidence in myself to make the shots, so I just let it fly." 

On the game-winning shot: "Our coaches in practice always do end-of-the-game scenarios, so I felt like we were prepared. It wasn't nerve racking as it may have seemed. When I got the ball I just knew that we had to score and my instincts took me to what I needed to do." 

On heading to foul line with a chance to win: "I was ecstatic, but I knew that I had to focus on making that free-throw. That's where my focus was." 

Up next: South Alabama will play FIU in the second, and final, game of the FIU Holiday Tournament on Friday, Dec. 21. Tip off vs. the Panthers is set for 1 p.m. (CST). 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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