MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team was handed its third loss of the season in a 42-65 defeat to the Little Rock Trojans on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center. The loss takes South Alabama to 12-3 on the season and 1-3 in Sun Belt play.
Little Rock used a 17-0 run that spanned from the end of the first quarter to the seven-minute mark in the second to amass its lead over the Jaguars, and the Trojans didn't look back after that. The Trojans capitalized on the offensive side of the glass, picking up 17 offensive boards, and turning those into 24 second-chance points over the Jaguars three.
Little Rock's defense held South to a season-low 42 points and 35 rebounds, while scoring 21 points off a season-high 26 turnovers for the Jaguars. The Trojans leading scorer, Kyra Collier dropped a game-high 20 points, and added seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Ronjanae DeGray contributed to the Trojans' efforts with 14 points and 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
Antoinette Lewis was on the way to her fifth double-double of the season for the Jags before leaving the contest with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Lewis finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high three blocks.
GAME FACTS
- Savannah Jones connected on the first three of the day for the Jaguars at the six-minute mark in the third quarter. Jones finished 1-of-1 from three with 12 points. Little Rock held the Jags, the leading three-point team in the Sun Belt, to just 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.
- The Jaguars were out-rebounded 35-44, marking the sixth consecutive game South has been beaten out on the glass.
- Kennedi Centers brought down 10 rebounds for the Jags and finished the game with three points.
- Little Rock's starters contributed for 60 of their 65 points, with three players finishing in double-figures.
- The Trojans defense held the Jags offense to 14-of-41 (.341) shooting from the floor; Little Rock shot just 36.4 percent but connected on 24-of-66 shots.
NOTES
- The Jags seven points in the second quarter marks a season-low in points for any quarter this season, while the 23 point margin of victory for Little Rock marks the highest this season against South.
- Little Rock improved to 18-12 all-time vs. the Jaguars and have won eight straight meetings. The two sides will meet again on Feb. 9 in Little Rock.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler
On today's game: "Little Rock did what they do. They really got out and denied Savannah Jones. I thought we were able to throw the ball inside to Antoinette Lewis and then play off of that. We got some cuts to the basket early and looked good. They've been a first quarter team and that's what they did. In the first quarter they got out on us and won that quarter and then just kept it going from there. We turned the ball over 26 times and that's not going to beat anybody. We turned it over 18 in the first half. They out-rebounded us. We got to the line, which we had not been doing, but we have to make free throws. We've got to take advantage of every opportunity that's presented to us and tonight we weren't able to do that."
On moving forward in conference play: "One thing about this league is the contrast in styles. One week you play one type of style and the next week you play another. We played the two Arkansas schools, who really just get after you on the defensive end of the floor and deny the passing lanes. Next week we play a defense similar to us. You've just got to move on. It's a long season. Eighteen games is a long time in league play. This time last year I think we were 3-1. You've just got to keep moving forward. We hit a rough patch towards the end of the season, so hopefully we're getting the rough patch over now and we can move on and go play well against Georgia State and Georgia Southern."
Up next: South Alabama heads back out on the road to take on Georgia State on Thursday, Jan. 17. Tip-off vs. the Panthers will take place at 5 p.m. at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
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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