PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team dropped its first road contest 64-45 against Rutgers on Friday at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Jaylin Powell paced the Jags (1-1) with 13 points followed by Dee Haymer with 10. Tyrielle Williams led all players with five assists and Mahogany Vaught had a game high four steals on the night.
For the Scarlet Knights (2-0), Stephanie Guihon registered 13 points and five rebounds. Sakima Walker also recorded double-digit figures with 10 points.
GAME FACTS
- In a low scoring opening frame, South Alabama led for a majority of the opening period of play heading into the second with a 10-9 advantage.
- With the Jaguars leading 13-12 a little over a minute into the second, RU's Guihon's layup on the ensuing possession sparked a run of five unanswered points to help the Scarlet Knights take the lead.
- Rutgers extended its lead to as much as six late in the period, but Haymer's jumper with 16 seconds showing on the clock before the intermission sent the two clubs into the locker room with RU holding a 26-22 advantage.
- South struggled to find the bottom of the net in the third, connecting on just two of its 10 shot attempts and went nearly eight minutes without a made basket to begin the second half.
- Both Powell and Haymer recorded three-pointers to end the drought and accounted for six of the seven points scored by South in the period.
- RU took advantage and broke the game open, outscoring USA 18-7 in the period to extend it's lead to 15 (44-29).
- The Scarlet Knights held the lead for the remainder of the contest, leading by as much as 23 in the final minute.
- Seven of the Jags' eight free-throws came in the fourth quarter, which made up nearly half of the points scored by the team in the period.
- Of the Scarlet Knights' 64 points, 48 came off the bench.
NOTES
- Rutgers, led by acting head coach Timothy Eatman, is now 2-0 in the series against South Alabama.
- With four of South's seven three-pointers, Powell paced the Jags with 13 points.
- Vaught led all players in steals, registering four of the Jags' eight.
- Williams made her first collegiate start and spent 34 minutes on the floor, the most of any Jag.
- She also dished out five assists – the most of any player in the contest – setting a career high in the category.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
-On tonight's performance: "I thought we came out and played well in the first half. They surprised us because they didn't press as much in the first half and we were able to do some things offensively. I thought we did a really good job on the defensive end against them. We didn't let their size really bother us, but in the second half their depth took over. They started bringing the press, but I'm pleased with our overall effort. I told the team after the game that we are like a seed. There are 11 new players and we are just trying to get this thing going. We can learn from this one. The third quarter was killer because we just couldn't score. We just have to learn from this one and move forward."
UP NEXT
- South Alabama will host Auburn-Montgomery on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
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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