TROY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team (15-6, 8-2 SBC) lost its first game in nearly a month as it fell to the Troy Trojans (11-10, 6-4 SBC), 82-71, at Trojan Arena on Saturday. The loss ended a six-game win streak and a three-game road win streak for the Jaguars.
Chyna Ellis led the Jags in scoring with 21 points. The senior shot 7-of-14 from the field. 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and 5-of-6 from the charity-stripe, while she grabbed seven rebounds, blocked four shots and recorded a pair of steals.
Shaforia Kines had a career-high five steals, scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The sophomore went 5-of-12 from the field and tied for the team-high with Candice Williams in assists with four.
LaNeetra Guillory had nine points going 4-of-8 from the field and making her lone three-point attempt, while blocking a pair of shots.
The Trojans had three with double-figure points, Kayla Robinson with 28, Amber Rivers with 13 and Jasmine Robinson with 10. Kayla Robinson also had 11 rebounds, six assists and shot 10-of-19 from the field.
GAME FACTS
- The Jags jumped out to a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, and held the Trojans to just 3-of-20 from the field.
- South Alabama led 35-27 at halftime, despite Chyna Ellis sitting out the entire second quarter while she was in foul trouble.
- Down by 10 with 7:22 left in the third, Troy went on a 13-2 run to take its first lead of the game with 4:42 left in the quarter.
- USA answered with a 7-0, and led 56-51 heading into the fourth.
- Troy dominated the fourth quarter, as it went on an 18-0 run in just over five minutes of game action and held South Alabama 0-for-13 from the field as the Jags went over eight minutes without a made field-goal.
- USA was outrebounded 57-38.
- Troy turned 23 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points.
- The turnover battle was tied at 16 apiece.
- The Jags blocked seven shots and recorded 12 steals to the Trojans' one rejection and seven takeaways.
- Troy took 10 more shots than South Alabama.
NOTES
- This is the first time this season the Jags have lost after leading at halftime and leading after the third quarter.
- This was USA's first loss when scoring 70 or more points.
- Ellis has 301 blocks for her career and the senior center had her sixth 20-point game of the season.
- Genesis Perrymond moved into sole possession of eighth place for most three-pointers made in a career with 108.
- Kines collected her sixth double-figure scoring game this season.
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
On the loss to Troy: "We had our opportunities. We couldn't make shots down the stretch. I thought we broke the press and got easy shots, but we couldn't make them. They hit more shots in the seccond-half than they did in the first-half and it made the difference in the ballgame."
On foul trouble in the first-half: "We were in foul trouble. [Antoi]nette (Lewis) had two, Chyna had two and India (Hall) ended up with two as well. It was good to see Kennedi Centers get some minutes. She could be a big a part of our depth here down the stretch."
On looking ahead to Little Rock: "Little Rock has more physicality than they (Troy) do. They don't play at the pace Troy does. We are really going to have to go in here and focus on rebounding the basketball and we have a tough contest ahead us."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars return to the Mitchell Center to face Little Rock on kids' day at 11 a.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).
Join the Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—
