Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The fifth-seeded University of South Alabama women's basketball team (19-11, 11-7 SBC) went wire-to-wire against the No. 12 ULM Warhawks (4-26, 1-17 SBC) in an 80-54 victory to start the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in New Orleans on Tuesday to advance the quarterfinals. USA had four players with 10 or more points in the win.
 
Antoinette Lewis lead the Jags with 20 points on a 9-of-10 shooting day, making her lone three-point attempt, and going 1-for-2 at the charity-stripe. Lewis also brought down five rebounds, had a pair of steals, a block and a career-high three assists.
 
Savannah Jones had a 15-point day going 5-for-9 from the field, making four three-point baskets on five attempts and a free-throw as part of an and-one. The redshirt freshman grabbed five rebounds, had a steal and a block in the victory.
 
Chyna Ellis shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-5 on three-point attempts, and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line for 14 points. The center collected 3 rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. The block was her 94th of the season and broke her single-season program record she set last season (93).
 
Shaforia Kines brought up the backend of Jags in double-figures with 11 on a 50 percent shooting day, making both of her three-point attempts. The sophomore guard also had four rebounds, recorded two steals and an assist.
 
The Warhawks were led by their two leading scorers Gabriella Cortez and Ursula Clark, who had 15 and 13 points, respectively. The USA defense held Cortez to 6-of-21 from the field, and limited her to just one make out of nine from three-point range.
 
GAME FACTS
- The Jags came out on a torrid pace in the first quarter, outscoring the Warhawks 23-8 and shooting 9-of-15 from the field, including 5-for-8 on three-point attempts.
- They also had a 16-0 run in the opening frame and started the game on a 22-2 overall run.
- South Alabama finished the first-half 15-of-28 from the field and held a 44-23 lead at the break.
- USA continued its superb shooting night going 8-of-14 in third and making half, 3-for-6, of their three-point attempts in the third quarter.
- ULM cut the lead to 19 in the third, but South Alabama went on a 16-2 run to extend its lead to 33, the largest of the game, with 4:06 left in the third.
- The only quarter the Jags were outscored by ULM was the fourth, 17-15.
- South Alabama outrebounded the Warhawks 40-32.
- USA outscored ULM 17-0 on fast break points and 30-20 in the paint.
- The Jags lead for 39:03 and never trailed.
- South Alabama shot 50.8 percent from the field and 52 percent from behind-the-arc.
- USA had 30 made baskets with 21 assists.
- The turnover battle finished tied at 15 for each team.
- The Jags had seven blocks, all by different players.

NOTES
- South Alabama made 13 three-pointers tying the record for most in a SBC Tournament game set by WKU in 2003.
- The Jags scored 80 or more points in an SBC tournament game for the first time since 2010 and had its largest margin of victory in a tournament game since defeating VCU by 30 in 1988. 
- USA had four with double-digit points for the fifth time this season.
- Lewis collected her second game of 20 or more points in the last four and was named the Under Armour Player of the Game.
- Lewis has had 10 or more points in her last five contests.
- Ellis scored in double-figures for the fourth time in the last five games, while Kines has done so in five of the last six and Jones in the last four.
- The Jags are 14-0 when out rebounding their opponents.
- South Alabama is 12-1 when scoring 70 or more points.
- Today USA shot over 50 percent from the field for the third time this season, first time since Dec. 16 against Central Arkansas.
 
THEY SAID IT
USA head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "I thought we came out and had a fast start, which was crucial for us. We shot the ball really well. I think that's important for us and our team feeds off shooting the basketball well. We created energy from there and were able to play good defense. I was pleased with the fact we had 30 made field-goals and 21 assists. That means we were sharing the basketball. We also outrebounded them and we are 14-0 when we outrebound our opponents. That's a crucial stat for us."
 
On setting the tone in the first quarter: "We were shooting it well, but I thought we got the ball inside. That was the big key and then from there we just played inside out. I thought we did a great job of contesting their shots and made it difficult for them."
 
On the balance of scoring: "I love that we were able to spread it around. I'm proud that it was inside and outside. We had Antoinette Lewis who has just really come on strong and was 9-of-10 from the field. Chyna Ellis was stepping outside and shooting the three and they had to guard her. That creates openings on the inside for us by her spreading the floor. Shaforia Kines and Savannah Jones shot the ball really well, especially early, and got us going. "
 
Senior C Chyna Ellis
On setting the tone for the SBC tournament: "What we've been preaching the last couple of games is it's our time and we're going to go take it. We were preaching it before the game this morning. Savannah [Jones] was sending out inspirational quotes and I sent out inspirational messages and friendly reminders to go take what belongs to us."
 
On the team's performance: "The ball movement was good and everybody was having fun. We were moving the ball really well and finding the open person. Everybody was knocking down shots and everyone was doing their part. When their opportunity came, they made the most of it."
 
Freshman F Antoinette Lewis
On what was going right for the team today: "We were moving the ball really well. That is something we try to capitalize on. Before the game Casey [Ferguson] was saying to get out of yourself and go out there, play and have fun and don't care about your individual self. I thought we did that to start off the tournament."
 
On what went well with making threes today: "That's our game. We thrive off paint-touch threes. They doubled us and we read it well. We stepped up and knocked them down."
 
On what is going right these last few games for her: "My team believes in me and my coaches believe in me. I know if they believe in me and they tell me I can't be stopped, that's how I feel and play. Unless I physically stop myself, I will play well. I'm trying to send the seniors off with some wins."
 
UP NEXT
The No. 5 Jaguars will face No. 4 Troy on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
 
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 visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

—USA—