MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team held the Lady Crusaders to 15 second-half points in a 65-40 victory over William Carey Tuesday afternoon at the Mitchell Center.

USA (3-1) was led by Mahogany Vaught with a game-high 14 points. The junior collected four rebounds with a season-high three assists as well. Jaylen Mallard and Jadona Davis also contributed with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Tariah Mouton and McKinley Seal led the way for the Lady Crusaders with nine points each, while Alexus Marsh collected eight rebounds for the visitors.

South Alabama 65, William Carey 40 (box score)

GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars built a four-point lead after one quarter, 17-13, after scoring the last four points with Davis sinking two free throws and Jayla Morrow converting a fast-break layup.
- South took control in the second quarter with a 16-2 run capped off by a three from Janelle Jones to carry a double-digit lead into the locker room, 35-25.
- USA held WCU in the single digits in the third quarter and stretched the advantage to 18, 51-33, behind seven points from Vaught.
- South allowed the Lady Crusaders to make just two field goals in the final quarter.
- The Jaguars shot 48.9 percent for the field for the game, including making 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) from three-point range.
- USA held a 10-point advantage, 28-18, scoring in the paint.

NOTES
- South Alabama moves to 5-1 all-time against William Carey having now claimed the last five meetings, all in Mobile.
- WCU was held to 14-of-55 (25.5 percent) from the floor, making it the second time this season the Jags have held a team under 30 percent shooting.
- No Lady Crusader recorded more than nine points in the contest; the first time South held a team without a double-figure scorer since a victory over Georgia State on 12/29/17.
- Vaught was leading scorer for both the Jaguars and all scorers for the first time in her career.
- The junior has now eclipsed the double-digit mark in each of the last three games, including a season-high 17 points against Tulane, after accomplishing the feat once her first two seasons with the program.
- With a game-high three blocks, Antoinette Lewis jumped up two positions in the Sun Belt all-time rankings in the category as she now ranks 14th with 180 in her career.
- Mallard was in double figures for the first time since setting her career high last season against Mobile (11/26/19).
- Morrow registered a game-best four assists, her most of the season, while also gathering four rebounds to tie her season-high mark in the latter category.
- Davis has now reached double figures in points in back-to-back games — she had 11 in the Jaguars' previous contest against Nicholls — while grabbing a career-high five rebounds.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "I thought we didn't have the energy that's required to be at a high level today, but I will say in the second half that we did come out and play better on the defensive end of the floor.  They have a small lineup, that caused some confusion for us with our post players having to guard some guards at times.  Mahogany Vaught came out and gave us a spark in the second half and got us going.  We have to be better, we need to take care of the basketball as we move into these next couple of games before the Christmas break."
On the team's defensive effort in the game: "In the first half — and especially in the first quarter — it was too easy for them, we didn't have any intensity on the defensive end.  We picked it up and definitely had that in the third and fourth quarters.  We started to switch everything they did one through four, played with a little more intensity and contested every shot to make it tough for them.  Then we were able to rebound and go down and score on our end."
On the team's progress the first two weeks of the season: "We are trying to find those third and fourth scorers, which we are starting to get.  Today we got some minutes from Janelle [Jones} and Serin [Dunne], Jadona Davis has started to understand her role.  It's good when we can win a game and not have to have a great game from Antoinette Lewis.  We have to make sure we can stay healthy."

Junior G Mahogany Vaught
On her performance today: "I tried to get my teammates involved, and when I had open looks I tried to take the shot.  I wanted to keep the offense moving."
On her play the last three games: "It's about being more mature.  Playing behind Shaforia Kines got me ready for this moment.  I've tried to be prepared and more in control of the offense."

Up next: South Alabama will go on the road to face Auburn, Sunday in the Auburn Arena at Auburn, Alabama. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m., and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

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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—USA—