MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama women's basketball team dropped their first game of the season – against Auburn in Neville Arena Thursday night.
The Jags trailed by just six with less than three minutes left in the game, but an Auburn run allowed the Tigers to pull away, getting the nine-point win.
Freshman
Kelsey Thompson scored 21 points off the bench, leading the Jags in points. Thompson and
Nadia Howard totaled 31 points each in the game, with Howard recording 12 points.
The Jags travel to New Orleans on Monday at 7 p.m., before returning home to the Mitchell Center for a three-game home stand to close our November.
GAME FACTS
- The Tigers scored three early points before the Jags tied it up off a Nadia Howard jumper and made a free throw.
- The Jags stayed even with the Tigers through the first, before the Tigers went on a 4-0 run to finish the quarter with a 16-12 lead.
- The Jags started the second quarter with a 9-2 run, to take a 21-18 lead with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
- The Tigers answered with a run of their own, taking a 33-21 lead over South Alabama with under five left in the first half.
- The Jags battled back, cutting the lead to 35-27 at halftime.
- Auburn pulled away in the third quarter, taking a 49-34 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.
- With the help of some Tristen Washington and Maggie Robinson free throws, the Jags cut the lead to just eight at the end of the third quarter.
- With under five to go in the game, the Jags trailed the Tigers 64-56.
- The Tigers extended their lead to 71-60 with a minute to go in the game.
NOTES
- The same starting five from Spring Hill – Tyrielle Williams, Zena Elias, Howard, Kiana Anderson and Jordan Rosier – started against the Tigers.
- The Jags out-rebounded the Tigers 47-41.
- The Jags totaled 43 bench points.
- Thompson was 4-for-7 from the field and 3-5 from behind the arc.
- Thompson's 21 points were the most of all players from both teams.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Terry Fowler:
"We came out in the first quarter and got the jitters out. Once we settled down, I thought we played well. We had an opportunity in the fourth quarter, being down only 60-66, we had the ball but didn't get a basket, and we let them go down and get a layup, and that gave them an opportunity to hold us off. Proud of our kids. Our starting point guard goes down with a knee injury and the next kid just steps up. I'm really proud of the group. We've got to move past this one and get ready for UNO on Monday."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars stay on the road through the weekend, traveling to New Orleans on Monday at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama women's basketball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaWBB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamawbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
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