MONROE, La. – After 23 days without a game, the University of South Alabama women's basketball team claimed its first conference win of the season with a 69-54 win over ULM at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Thursday. 

The Jags (7-7, 1-0 SBC) had a total of five players in double figures with Jaylin Powell leading the team with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. Kiana Anderson and Tyrielle Williams both had career nights with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Dee Haymer and Mahogany Vaught each dropped in 10 points on the night. Powell and Haymer grabbed seven boards each, sharing the team high.

 The Warhawks (4-14, 0-4 SBC) were paced by Kyren Whittington's game-high 26 points and Tasionna McDowell's 13 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive glass.

GAME FACTS
- South Alabama used a 9-0 run over the first three-plus minutes of the contest to grab the early lead. 
- The Warhawks got on the board halfway through the first period, however, were unable to score a field goal until the final three minutes of the first. 
- South scored nine more points in the final two minutes of the quarter for a 20-11 advantage going into the second. 
- Anderson started the second period for the Jags with five straight points of her own. ULM attempted to close the gap with a 9-2 run but South's nine points over the final three minutes of the quarter allowed them to stay in control with a 36-24 halftime score.
- The Jags put up seven unanswered points to start of the third, five of which were from Tyrielle Williams. 
- Powell followed suit later in the period with three consecutive three-pointers for South, giving the squad its largest lead of the night at 25 points (54-29). 
- After allowing the Warhawks to score seven points, Anderson closed out the quarter with a layup, putting South ahead by 20 at 56-36 headed into the final 10 minutes. 
- South Alabama shot 43.5 percent or better over each of the first three quarters, and was 7-of-13 from the field for 53.85 percent in both the second and third periods, including 7-of-13 from three-point land.
- ULM started the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to which South responded to with six unanswered points. 

NOTES
- South has now won each of the last eight games against ULM.  
- The last time South Alabama had five players with double-digit scoring totals was against Arkansas State on March 5. 
- The Jags went 14-for-19 at the line for their highest free throw percentage of the season (73.7).
- South recorded just six steals, its lowest total this season.
- This was the second occasion that Powell has scored 20 points or more. 
- Vaught exceeded five assists for the second time this season with seven.
- Haymer was perfect from the line, going 8-for-8, the most made free throws of any Jag this season.
- Along with new scoring totals, Anderson and Williams surpassed their previous field-goals made by one each. 

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
-Opening statement: "I thought we really came out and got off to a fast start which gave us some confidence moving forward. We came in here short handed but our kids stuck together and played outstanding. For three quarters we played as well as we could play. In the fourth quarter we had a letdown, we have to be better in that situation and finish off games. To give our kids credit we did make free throws to extend the lead back. It was just balanced scoring. We had five players in double figures. We turned it over early with 11 in the first half but eight in the second so I think that made a big difference in the game. I am so proud of our team. We haven't played since December 21 so to come out here and play, especially with our young kids playing major minutes, that's big. Another big thing for us was our free throw shooting, going 14-of-19, that kind of sealed the deal. We also played out of position a lot, guards are playing the five spot and four spot but those are just things we adjusted at shoot around today. We are 1-0 in league play, winning on the road is always difficult, but we have to get back and get ready for Louisiana on Saturday."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will host Louisiana on Saturday at 2 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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