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Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team (20-12) defeated Stetson (17-15) in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitational, 49-33, Thursday night at the Mitchell Center. This is the Jags first appearance in the WBI and it is their first postseason since the 2003-04 season.
 
Shaforia Kines was the lone Jag with 10 or more points as she scored 14 on a 6-for-10 shooting night. Kines also grabbed four rebounds and dished out an assist in the win.
 
Genesis Perrymond scored nine points, all from behind-the-arc in the first quarter. The senior recorded a game-high four steals, while collecting a pair of boards and assists.
 
Savannah Jones scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds. The redshirt freshman also rejected a shot and had a takeaway.
 
Chyna Ellis collected 11 rebounds in the contest, her 15th game of 10 or more rebounds this season. She also had a game-high three blocks.
 
The Jags did not allow a Stetson player to reach double-digit points in the contest, marking the first time since Dec. 29 against Georgia State they did not allow opposing player to reach 10 points. McKenna Beach grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for the Hatters, while Brittney Chambers led the team with nine points.
 
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama came out gunning in the first quarter outscoring Stetson 17-11.
- Perrymond scored nine points in the first, all on made three-pointers.
- USA followed up the first by holding the Hatters scoreless in the second, 12-0.
- Kines scored the last points of the quarter on a layup to give the Jags their largest lead of the half at 18 points.
- The Hatters went on an 11-3 run in the first 7:55 of the third quarter.
- South Alabama led 34-24 heading into the fourth.
- USA kicked off the fourth quarter on a 9-1 run, capped off by a Jayla Morrow layup with 7:12 left to match its largest lead of the game at 18 points.
- Neither team scored in the final 2:50 of the game.
- The Hatters outrebounded the Jags by the narrow margin of 37-36.
- South Alabama forced 21 turnovers while only committing 15.
- The two squads tied in points in the paint and points off turnovers 16-16 and 12-12, respectively.
- USA had six second-chance points and held Stetson to zero on 13 offensive rebounds.

NOTES
- The Jags captured their first postseason win since 1988.
- This was the second time the Mitchell Center hosted a postseason game, the last time was a WNIT contest in 2004.
- Jones now holds the single-season record for made three-pointers by a freshman in program history with 65.
- Ellis became the first player in program history to reach 100 blocks in a season.
- This is the first 20 win-season for the program since 2008-09.
- Kines has had 10 or more in seven of the last eight games.
- This was only the second time this season USA only had one player with double-digit points.
- The Jags' 49 points are the fewest scored in a win this season.
- Stetson's 33 points are the fewest scored by an opponent this season.
- Shutting out the Hatters in the second quarter was the first time USA has shutout an opponent in a quarter this season.
 
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
Opening Statement: "It's great to have an opportunity to play in the postseason in the WBI. I thought we came out early getting shots that we wanted. They just weren't falling for us. Then we were able to get out and run. Our defense was outstanding. That's the way we're capable of playing. Hopefully, as we move along in this tournament, we can continue to play at that pace. In the second-half, we got stagnant on the offensive end, but it was more so that we weren't able to get stops. We gave up offensive rebounds to them, so we weren't able to push the ball and go get into a flow. I thought the fourth quarter we just grinded it out and make baskets at crucial times and finish it on the defensive end. I was proud of our effort."
 
On the low scoring game: "It was going to be a tough night. They're a team that can score. If you look at both of us statistically, we're kind of mirror images. They average 64 per game. We average 67 point per game. It was a mirror image, but we got out and took up space on the defensive end. We didn't allow their back cuts and their Princeton offense and did a great job on Brittney Chambers."
 
On third quarter defense: "Our offense wasn't with us for most of the night so we had to get down and get in a stance and guard the basketball. We just did a great job of taking up space and squeezing off of their non-shooters and made it difficult for them. That was the thing we were most proud of."
 
On three-point shooting: "All throughout the season, when we were really playing well, we averaged making eight threes. Then we went through that stretch when we weren't scoring, and we were making four or five per game. It's important that we get the three-ball going, and we were able to get off early. Genesis Perrymond had three in the first half. Shaforia [Kines] had some crucial ones. And then Savannah [Jones] had some timed ones as well."
 
Sophomore G Shaforia Kines
On the postseason win: "It means a lot. We've been working hard as a team. Just getting to the post season means a lot to us."
 
On her second-half shooting: "Confidence. That's all it is. Continue to shoot even though I was missing everything in the first[-half]."
 
Redshirt Freshman G Savannah Jones
On freshman record for made three-pointers in a season: "It's been a pretty good season. I feel like I learned a lot this year playing. My teammates and my coaches give me good advice. My coach let me know after the game [that I broke the record]."
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will host Furman on Monday at 7 p.m. (C.T.) in the second-round of the WBI.
 
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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