MOBILE, Ala. – Shaforia Kines scored 21 points and handed out five assists while Savannah Jones just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds on Saturday to lead the University of South Alabama women's basketball team to a 70-48 non-conference victory over Tennessee State at the Mitchell Center.

Kines connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the field and all six free-throw attempts to lead all scorers, and she contributed three of the Jaguars' 12 three-pointers as well.  Jones was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc while adding four assists, a pair of blocks and two steals, Devyn Lowe recorded 12 points and Antoinette Lewis was credited with a game-high 10 rebounds to help South improve to 3-4.

Deaja Richardson posted 17 points to pace the Lady Tigers (1-5), who were forced into 22 turnovers and outrebounded 50-33 in the contest.

South Alabama 70, Tennessee State 48 (box score)

GAME FACTS
-USA shot 50 percent from the field and forced seven turnovers to open up a 20-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
-The Jags limited the Lady Tigers to just 4-of-18 (22.2%) shooting in the second period to go up 36-21 at the break.
-After TSU closed to within seven points in the opening minutes of the third quarter, South went on a 13-0 run and led 51-34 going to the final period.
-The Jaguars connected on more three-point field goals (12) than the Lady Tigers attempted (11).
-TSU had 15 steals but only managed nine points off 25 South turnovers.

NOTES
-The Jaguars now own a 4-1 advantage in the series with Tennessee State having claimed both match-ups in Mobile.
-It's the first time this season South has recorded back-to-back wins as well as the first occasion since Jan. 24 and 26 last year — when USA defeated Louisiana (83-60) and ULM (77-49) — that the team has earned consecutive victories by 20 or more points.
-The 12 threes were the most the Jags have made thus far this season, although it was the third time in the team's first seven contests that they have reached double digits in the category.
-It was Kines' second game with 20-plus points in the last three outings, and her team-leading sixth in double figures scoring this season.
-The senior also led the squad in assists for the fifth time this year.
-Jones tied a season high in rebounding while the assist total was a new career best for the redshirt junior.
-It was the first time Lowe has scored 10 or more points in a game since finishing with 13 in a win over Texas State on March 13 last season in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
-Lewis has now led the Jags in rebounding in all seven contests this season, posting a double-figure total on the boards in five of those outings.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "The first half we came out and played as well as we have played on the defensive end of the court this season.  The challenge at halftime was to make sure that we could maintain our intensity on defense.  The thing we need to work on moving forward is our turnovers, the only downfall in this game was that we did not take care of the basketball.  They made a strong effort not to allow the ball inside, but we were able to hit outside shots.  Savannah Jones, Shaforia Kines, and Devyn Lowe all had great nights for us."
On the team's defense in the game: "We did a better job of executing tonight.  We knew our assignments and maintained good position.  Our emphasis is to always be proactive and not reactive, which we did a good job of doing tonight."
On the 13-0 run in the third quarter: "We were able to get stops and convert our opportunities.  The main thing was forcing tough shots and securing rebounds in addition to getting some steals and points off turnovers which allowed us to build a cushion for the rest of the game."

Redshirt Junior G Savannah Jones
On her performance: "I wanted to let the game come to me today.  I tried to play within the flow of the game and the flow of our offense.  That allowed my shot to come, and when it came it was falling."
On the team's defensive performance in the first half: "As a team we take pride in defense.  In the huddle before the game we emphasized that we wanted to come out and limit their opportunities by playing good defense."

Up next: South ends a six-game homestand with a match-up against Auburn at the Mitchell Center on Wednesday, with opening tip slated for 7 p.m. (CST).

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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