PENSACOLA, Fla – With five individuals in double figures scoring highlighted by a double-double from Antoinette Lewis, the University of South Alabama earned a 73-64 women's basketball victory Friday over Arkansas State in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Hartsell Arena.

Lewis finished with 13 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and six blocked shots to pace the Jaguars (13-12), with Devyn Lowe and Jayla Morrow contributing 16 points each.  Janelle Jones chipped in with 15 points off the bench while Mahogany Vaught scored 13 and handed out five assists as South ended a three-game losing streak.

Karolina Szydlowska paced the Red Wolves (9-12) with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Peyton Martin added 12 and seven, respectively, as well.  Jada Stinson also scored 12 points for A-State.

South Alabama 73, Arkansas State 64 (box score)

GAME FACTS
-After limiting the Red Wolves to just 2-of-12 shooting from the floor in the opening period, South held a 20-5 advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes.
-The Jags were held to only three field goals in the second quarter as A-State cut the deficit to 31-25 at the half.
-Jones hit a pair of three-pointers in the final 96 seconds of the third period as the Jaguars led 54-49 going to the final quarter.
-A 7-0 run by the Red Wolves made the score 64-61 with just over three minutes to go, but Jones answered with a three and the Jags posted the final six points of the contest to earn the win.
-USA finished the contest with a 50-33 rebounding advantage, with 17 of those coming on the offensive end.
-The Jaguars were credited with 15 assists on their 27 field goals.

NOTES
-South has now won three-of the last four match-ups with the Red Wolves.
-It's the first time the Jags have beaten A-State in consecutive outings — they also won last year's match-up between the two in the opening round of the SBC Tournament — since 2012.
-After making 27-of-65 (41.5 percent) from the floor it was the first occasion that the Jaguars have shot better than 40 percent since facing Troy on Feb. 13.
-USA grabbed 50-plus rebounds for the first time since its season-opening victory over Mobile on Nov. 25.
-It was also the first time this season that South has had five individuals score in double figures.
-Lewis has now been credited with a double-double in back-to-back contests, the first time that has happened since the Jags' opening two outings of the season.
-Not only was Lewis credited with a career-best rebounding total, she recorded five assists before the end of the opening quarter on the way to career-high total in that category as well.
-In addition to scoring in double digits for the third game in a row, Lowe has finished with five or more rebounds in each of those outings as well.
-It was the first time since scoring a career-best 21 points at Coastal Carolina on Feb. 6 that Morrow has finished in double figures scoring.
-Jones — who has now scored 10-plus points in three of the last five games — finished the day with a career-high scoring total after making 4-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc.
-The freshman also posted a career high with six rebounds while playing just over a mile from her high school gym.
-It was the second contest in a row that Vaught has reached double digits in the scoring column, while it marked the third occasion in the last five outings she has posted five-plus assists.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler
Opening statement: "We knew coming into this game that we were going to be shorthanded, but our kids have some fight and resolve about them.  It was great to get off to a good start early, it was a big confidence boost for us.  We were able to hold on when they made their run and then hit some big shots to hold them off.  Antoinette Lewis had a great game, and Janelle Jones — who was playing in front of family and friends — made some key plays for us as well.  I can't thank our team enough, they just fought today and weren't going to be denied."
On motivating the team for the game: "One thing about this group is that we've made some runs in the tournament the last couple of years, and even in 2017-18 when we won one game we were able to play in the WBI.  Once we get to tournament time, this group's focus and preparation has been dialed in.  That's the key to it, they just understand this time of the year and really love it."
On Antoinette Lewis: "She's really our only true post player, she is in there battling each possession.  She's always been a really good rebounder because she jumps, she'll tell you that's because she has a volleyball background; a lot of times her jumping is straight up and down so she goes and gets the ball at its highest peak.  They tried to use a two-headed monster with Peyton Martin and Trinitee Jackson to wear her down, but she was able to sustain her effort.  She's just an all-around great player."

Senior forward Antoinette Lewis
On the win over Arkansas State: "I think we came out with a lot of fight, we started strong and that gave us a great advantage in facing the runs they made throughout the game.  I'm proud of my team, we came out and competed and didn't give up and that's what led to our success today."
On the team's rebounding performance in the contest: "We had it in our minds to crash the boards.  I know I draw a lot of attention because of my ability to rebound so I let my teammates know that there would be opportunities for them.  They listened and took advantage of that, which helped us to go and track down all those boards."
On preparing for Saturday's quarterfinal game: "It starts with our recovery, we have to make sure we eat and hydrate and et our sleep tonight.  We have to focus when we watch film later because we won't have the opportunity to do a walk through as part of our scout.  We need to come with the mindset that it has to happen and there is no other way, and if we do we'll have a chance to get the same results."

Up next: South will face regular-season champion Louisiana in the quarterfinals of the tournament, with opening tip at the Pensacola Bay Center slated for 1:30 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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