MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama women's basketball kicked off conference play with an overtime loss to Marshall, dropping the game 63-61.
Tristen Washington led the Jags with 11 points, her fourth game this season in double figures.
Jordan Rosier totaled 10 points in the loss, her fifth double-digit game.
Kiana Anderson led the team in rebounding with nine, with
Zena Elias totaling five boards.
The Thundering Herd had two players in double figures, with Abby Beeman leading the team with 20. Beeman also recorded 12 rebounds.
The Jags continue their conference slate Saturday, hosting Southern Miss at 1 p.m.
GAME FACTS
- The Jags and the Thundering Herd traded baskets to open the game, with the score tied at 10 with under five to go in the first quarter.
- The two teams continued to battle to finish the first quarter, with South Alabama taking a 17-14 lead off a Casey Ferguson layup to finish the first quarter.
- South used a 5-0 run early in the second quarter to take a 22-17 lead with seven and a half to go in the first half.
- With the game tied at 26 with two and half minutes to go in the second quarter, Marshall used a 6-0 run to finish the first half, taking a 32-26 lead going into the locker room.
- South opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run, leading 36-32 with six and a half minutes to go in the third quarter.
- The team traded baskets once again, and Marshall tried to cut the lead but South was able to hold the Thundering Herd off, leading 42-41 going into the final quarter.
- South then trailed by six with under five minutes to go in the game, but were able to tie the game at 56 with 1:19 to play. Neither team could break the tie, sending the game to overtime.
- Marshall hit a three to open overtime and Kiana Anderson hit a driving layup to cut Marshall's lead to 59-58.
- Marshall led 61-58 with 52 seconds to go and Tristen Washington hit a three with 33 seconds left to tie it up, but Marshall was able to make a last second shot to win the game 63-61.
NOTES
- The loss was the Jags first overtime game this season. The last time South played in an overtime game was last season against Georgia State.
- Nadia Howard earned her 12th 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 31 games, dating back to last season.
- Tristen Washington led the Jags with 11 points, her fourth double-digit game of the season and her third time leading the team.
- Kiana Anderson recorded nine rebounds, her fifth time leading the team in rebounding.
- Jordan Rosier recorded her fifth double-figure game of the season (10 points).
- The game had seven lead changes and was tied 10 times.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Terry Fowler:
Opening statement:
"Just a tough game to open up conference play with. I really felt like we had every opportunity to come out on top. Their two best players were able to come up and make plays when they needed to. I am so proud of our team and the fight, I feel like we have been trending in an upward motion. We had three great days of practice coming into tonight's game and came up a little short. Really proud of the effort and fight our kids showed and the belief that they could get the job done. We've got to carry that over to Saturday's game."
On trending upward:
"We are starting to understand. We lost
Tyrielle Williams earlier this season and we were adjusting to the point guard position and we've got that settled now with
Tristen Washington and now we are just settling in. Everyone is understanding what we need to do, what we want to do a little better and that is paying off and showing up on game day now. We are trending in the right direction we just need to keep going."
On having a short memory:
"That's something I tell our kids, it's the good thing about basketball, you get to tur around and do it again, you don't wait around a week like you do in football. We've gotta flush this one tonight, come in here tomorrow and do all the things we need to recover, do film and have preparation on the court and get ready for Southern Miss on Saturday."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars host the Southern Miss Eagles on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 1 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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