MOBILE, Ala. – Japonica James recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds Saturday to help lead Troy to a 77-73 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball victory over the University of South Alabama at the Mitchell Center.
James was 10-of-15 from the field and was also credited with four steals as the Trojans moved to 23-4 overall and 14-2 in the league. Kayla Robinson added 17 points and Amber Rivers had 14 as Troy finished with a 66-13 advantage in scoring from the bench.
Shaforia Kines matched James for game-high honors after scoring 24 points, and she led the Jaguars (13-15, 8-8 SBC) with four assists as well. Fellow senior Kennedi Centers pulled down a game-best 13 rebounds, with Antoinette Lewis and Jala Buster adding 12 and 10 points, respectively, for USA.
Troy 77, South Alabama 73 (box score)
GAME FACTS
-South began the contest on an 11-2 run in the first four minutes and were ahead 24-16 at the end of the opening period.
-The Jaguars were up 44-35 at the break after making 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from behind the three-point arc in the first half.
-The Trojans went 11-of-12 at the free-throw line in the third quarter, and after forcing seven turnovers in the period the Jags led just 61-60 going to the final 10 minutes.
-Troy ended the period on a 15-2 run as South was held without a field goal over the last four minutes and 45 seconds.
-The lead changed hands four times in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but Tyasia Moore made 1-of-2 free throws with just under six minutes remaining to give the Trojans the lead for good.
-The Jaguars were outrebound by 10 in the second half as Troy finished with a 48-36 edge on the boards.
NOTES
-Centers, Kines and Emerald Hart were all recognized prior to the start of the contest as a part of the program's annual Senior Day ceremony.
-South was 11-of-24 from beyond the arc in the game, the fourth time in the last five outings the Jags have made 10-plus three-pointers.
-USA was credited with 11 steals, the second time in the last four games the team has reached double digits in the category after doing so twice in the first 24 contests of the season.
-Kines — who reached double figures scoring before the end of the opening quarter — posted more than 20 points for the second time against the Trojans this season.
-It was her team-best ninth outing with 20-plus points on the year, and the 14th occasion this year that the senior has led the squad.
-The rebounding total for Centers was a career high, as it was her first time in double figures in the category since pulling down 11 in a win over Louisiana on March 11 last season in the opening round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
-Lewis has scored 10 or more points in 20 games this year after reaching double figures in back-to-back outings for the first time since wins over Louisiana and ULM on Feb. 6 and 8 earlier in the month.
-Buster set a new career high after making all three of her three-point attempts as she scored in double digits for the first time since posting 14 points at Coastal Carolina on Feb. 15.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "I'm disappointed that we weren't able to finish the game, especially for our seniors with the way they played tonight. Troy made a run when they went to the press and then Sha[foria] got cramps, and that hurt us at the point guard spot while we were trying to break the press. We fouled them too much down the stretch, they were able to go to the line and score and get back in the game without the clock running. There was a stretch where we missed three consecutive layups and they were able to go down and score on those possessions, that was a big turning point in the game."
On the trip to end the regular season next week: "The two games we have coming up in Arkansas against Arkansas State and Little Rock are crucial. I think our players know we can play with anyone in this league, but we have to go out and prove that on a nightly basis. Really, we need to make sure we do that in practice and earn it, then we can take that out on the court in games."
Up next: USA will go to Arkansas State on Thursday, with game time in Jonesboro set 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).
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—
