MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball cruised past Mobile, 70-40 in the season-opener at the Mitchell Center Wednesday afternoon.

Holding a nine-point lead entering the second quarter, South (1-0) extended the lead by holding the visiting Rams to four points in the period. Antoinette Lewis led South with 13 points and 10 rebounds on the day, with Savannah Jones and Jaylen Mallard contributing 13 and 12 boards, respectively.  Ten Jags scored at least two points in the contest.

Mobile was led by D'Mya Ferguson, who had a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 11 rebounds. No other Ram scored over six points on the day.

South Alabama 70, Mobile 40 (box score)

GAME FACTS
- After a slow start, the Jaguars found a shooting rhythm with a 15-0 run over 5:41 to go up 16-2. The final nine points were scored on three straight threes from Jayla Morrow and a pair by Jala Buster.
- USA stretched the lead to 22 at the 5:07 mark after Jones drained a three when Casey Ferguson found her open in the corner.
- The Jaguars took a 25-point lead into the locker room at halftime,  building a 29-17 rebounding advantage with 11 on the offensive end leading to 13 second-chance points.
- South maintained its 20-point lead, extending it to 27 to finish the third quarter, 49-23.
- Jadona Davis made a jumper with 28 seconds remaining to close out the scoring.

NOTES
- South Alabama remains perfect in the series against Mobile, 8-0.
- The Jaguars held Mobile to four points in the second quarter. The last time that South held an opponent to under five points in a quarter came when it limited Georgia State to five points in the second quarter on Jan. 16 last season.
- USA recorded its first 30-point win since defeating ULM on Feb. 8.
- Serin Dunne registered nine points in her debut game at South. The freshman was 3-for-3 from three-point range in 13 minutes on the court.
- Both Jones and Mallard posted a career-high rebounding total.
- At the 5:30 mark of the third quarter, Lewis pulled down her 10th rebound for her active team-leading 33rd career double-double.
- Lewis also lead the club in assists with four, with a pair going out beyond the arc for three-pointers.
- As a team, South pulled down 52 rebounds. That mark was last accomplished against Troy on Feb. 1, last season.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
- Opening statement: "We talked about it being 259 since we played on March 11 at UTA, so let's get out here and have some fun while enjoying the game that we have not been able to play. That was kind of the focal point and to not take anything for granted anymore. We came out and played well as a team. I was pleased with our defensive effort to start the first quarter. Today was the eighth time we have been able to play five-on-five basketball so I was concerned with where we going to be at considering Mobile had already played three games coming in. Hats off to our players, they really came out and played well."
- On what went well: "I thought we moved the ball, early on especially while playing inside out and did a great job there. We didn't settle for threes. When [Jala] Buster came in the game, they closed out on her and she drove on them. We started driving the basketball after that. We could have easily started settling for threes, so that was a good sign for us, getting the ball into the paint and play from there.
- On using the player depth: "Just to get Jadona Davis out there to play, and Ashanti Lavergne getting an opportunity to play. I thought Serin Dunne for a freshman had a really good debut. We got the jitters out, and this feels like an exhibition game but luckily we were able to get a lot of people out on the court."

Sophomore Jaylen Mallard
- On playing after the extended break for COVID: "Before the game, Coach Fowler said it had been 259 days since we had played a real game and won at UTA, it felt so good."
- On what went right today: "We really played together. Our main focus has been to play together no matter who we are playing. As long as we do that, we are going to be good this season."
- On areas of improvement: "Rebounding and boxing out, we need to find our man when boxing out and move around on offense.

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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