Box Score (PDF)
 
MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama women's basketball team (16-11, 9-7 SBC) lost to Louisiana (14-14, 9-7 SBC) on Senior Day, 59-56, Saturday. Prior to the game the Jags honored five senior student-athletes, Erin Autio, Candice Williams, LaNeetra Guillory, Genesis Perrymond and Chyna Ellis.
 
The two teams were tied 45-45 heading into the fourth quarter. Through the first seven-and-a-half minutes, Louisiana was on an 11-4 run and led by seven. The Jags answered with a 7-1 run as Antoinette Lewis made a layup to pull the Jags within one with 31 ticks remaining.
 
South Alabama forced a turnover with 25 seconds on the clock. Perrymond fired up a three-point attempt that rolled in-and-out of the basket with seven seconds left. After a foul and a pair of made Ragin' Cajun free-throws, the Jags advanced the ball past half-court with a timeout as they trailed by three with six seconds left. Savannah Jones threw up a three, but it fell short as time expired.
 
Lewis collected a double-double with 23 points, a career-high, and 13 rebounds while shooting 8-for-12 from the field and 7-of-9 from the charity-stripe. The freshman forward also assisted on 1 shot, had a steal and one block.
 
Savannah Jones scored 15 points on a 6-of-10 shooting night, while making 3-of-5 three-point attempts. Jones also grabbed six rebounds, had a helper and a block in the defeat.
 
Shaforia Kines rounded out a trio of Jags in double figures with 10. The sophomore guard hit two of her three attempts from beyond-the-arc and made 4-of-8 free-throw attempts. Kines also recorded four takeaways and three rebounds.
 
Seniors Perrymond and Williams led the Jags with four and three assists, respectively. Guillory had three rejections and Ellis collected career-block 317. Autio fell short of tying a season-high in rebounds with four.
 
Louisiana had a group effort in the game with every player scoring at least five points and all but one grabbing at least four rebounds. Ty'Reonne Doucet led the Ragin' Cajuns with 15 points, their lone player in double-figures, and she grabbed five rebounds.
 
GAME FACTS
- USA got on the board first with a Chyna Ellis jumper.
- South Alabama trailed 20-14 at the end of the first quarter.
- The Jags dominated the second quarter outscoring the Ragin' Cajuns 17-10 and took a one-point lead into halftime.
- Lewis had a double-double at the half with 11 point and 10 rebounds.
- Louisiana took the third by a one-point margin as the teams headed into the final quarter tied at 45-45.
- The Ragin' Cajuns tried to pull away in the final quarter, but the Jags pulled back within one in the final minute.
- South Alabama couldn't get a shot to fall as Louisiana took the game.
- USA outscored the LA bench 42-28.
- The Ragin' Cajuns outrebounded the Jags 42-35.
- South Alabama lost the turnover battle 17-15.
- USA had more steals than LA, 7-4.

NOTES
- This was the first time the Jags were tied after the third quarter.
- Tonight was Lewis' seventh game this season with 10 or more points, including her third time in the last four games.
- Jones recorded her 17th game in double-figure points, her second in the last three games.
- Kines collected her third consecutive game of 10 or more points.
- Lewis is the fourth Jag to score 20 or more points in a game this season, joining Autio, Ellis and Jones.
- Guillory had three blocks for the fourth time this season, eighth time for her career.
- USA finished the season 10-5 at home.
- This was the fifth game this season the Jags did not have a shot blocked.
 
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "I thought we didn't come out and play with enough energy in the first quarter, but our kids picked it up in the second quarter; we got after them a little bit and was able to take the lead at halftime.  We had opportunities in the third quarter and couldn't get it [the lead] extended, and in the fourth quarter we had some layups that we missed and we have to convert at the free-throw line at a higher rate.  Credit to our kids for fighting, for getting ourselves back in it and taking the last shot to send the game into overtime.  It's disappointing on Senior Day because we really wanted to send our seniors out on a great note playing in their final game at the Mitchell Center."
 
On the play of the bench in the game: "Savannah Jones was able to get back on.  I think Chyna Ellis maybe played three minutes —if that — in the first half, but to have Antoinette Lewis come in and play at the level she is playing at we didn't miss a beat there as far as being able to score in the paint; of course we missed Chyna's defensive presence in the first half."
 
On what the team needs to do in next week's last two regular-season games: "We just need to get confidence back.  I thought we had a great practice yesterday, we really moved the ball.  There is no magic, it is just in the work; it's coming in and getting back to the basics and being able to play at the pace we need to play with.  They really wanted to play at a slower pace and we only got 53 shot attempts tonight."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars head back on the road to play Georgia Southern Thursday. The game starts at 4 p.m. (C.T.).
 
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—