MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama women's basketball finished their nonconference slate with a 68-60 win over Mississippi Valley State.
Tristen Washington led the Jags with 20 points, a career-high at the Division I level.
Kiana Anderson matched a career-high with 14 points and
Jordan Rosier totaled 12 points in the win. The win was Washington's third double-figure game, Anderson's fifth and Rosier's fourth.
Washington went 5-for-7 from behind the arc, posting a team and career-high five made threes. The teams' 10 made three-pointers ties a season record.
The win was the sixth game of the season with three Jags in double figures.
Anderson led the team in rebounding with seven, with
Zena Elias,
Nadia Howard and
Kelsey Thompson totaling five boards each.
The Devilettes had four players in double figures, with Anjanae Mueck leading the team with 15.
The Jags open conference play at the Mitchell Center on Dec. 29 against Marshall at 6 p.m.
GAME FACTS
- Tristen Washington had eight quick points to give South an 8-5 lead with seven to go in the first quarter.
- A 5-2 run by Mississippi Valley State tied the game at 10 with under five to go in the first quarter.
- The Jags traded baskets to end the first, with the game all tied up at 17 at the end of the first quarter.
- The Jags opened the second quarter with four straight three-pointers to take a 29-24 lead with five to go in the first half.
- South hit a scoring drought at the end of the second quarter, but they were able to keep a 39-33 lead going into halftime.
- Mississippi Valley State took the lead halfway through the third, leading 44-42.
- South used a 7-0 run to retake the lead with under two minutes to go in the third quarter.
- Mississippi Valley State tied it up at 52 with eight to go in the game.
- The Jags took a 61-55 lead with three and a half to go in the game off a Kiana Anderson layup.
- Mississippi Valley State cut the lead to 63-60 with a minute to go in the game, but South was able to hold on to the lead, winning 68-60.
NOTES
- Nadia Howard earned her 11th start of the season, making her the only Jag to start all games this season.
- Howard currently has the longest starting streak on the team, starting 30 games, dating back to last season.
- The Jags started the same lineup as the previous game – Zena Elias, Howard, Tristen Washington, Jordan Rosier and Maggie Robinson.
- Tristen Washington led the Jags with 20 points, her third double-digit game of the season and her second time leading the team.
- Kiana Anderson totaled 14, her fifth game this season in double figures.
- Anderson recorded seven rebounds, her fourth time leading the team in rebounding.
- Jordan Rosier recorded her fourth double-figure game of the season (12 points).
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Terry Fowler:
Opening statement:
"Great way to send the kids home for Christmas break and then be ready to head into conference play when we return. The game had ups and downs in it, Valley had some runs, and we were able to have some too, but I thought we were aggressive. We talked about being aggressive because we weren't against Alabama State. We got to the free throw line 24 times today, I thought that was huge. I thought we did a great job on the boards, out-rebounding them by 11. The game is about possession, and we were able to get more possessions and we able to do some really good things, throwing the ball inside to Keedy [
Kiana Anderson] and she was able to score, then great shooting from
Tristen Washington tonight and
Jordan Rosier. It was an overall team effort and now we have a much-needed break to get ready for Sun Belt play."
On good ball movement:
"We have been talking about really getting the ball moving from side to side and really making the defense change sides on the floor and creating long closeouts and drive and kick situations, which I thought we did a good job of tonight. Hopefully, we can carry that to Sun Belt play. It's great we open up at home against two really good teams in Marshall and Southern Miss and we've gotta put our best foot forward and compete."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars open their conference slate on Dec. 29 at the Mitchell Center at 6 p.m. against Marshall.
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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