MOBILE, Ala. – Scoring 21 straight points in the fourth period, Georgia Southern came back from a three-quarter deficit to defeat the University of South Alabama women's basketball team 68-56 in the Mitchell Center on Thursday. 

Terren Ward had 21 points by herself, the most of any player in the contest, as well as 12 rebounds. Also contributing double figures for the Eagles was Daeja Holmes with 11 points. 

Casey Ferguson led the way for the Jags with 15 points, a season high, in addition to a team high five rebounds and her first block of the season. Jaylin Powell followed with 13 points and Mahogany Vaught handed out four assists and had five boards for the game. 

GAME FACTS
-The Jags took the early lead with five straight points in the first two minutes of the contest. 
- The teams traded buckets until South went on an eight-point run around the four-minute mark. 
- Georgia Southern responded with three consecutive layups, however, South Alabama held the 17-13 advantage at the end of the first period. 
- South started the second period outscoring its opponent 14-3 in the first four minutes. 
- The Eagles narrowed their deficit to six points but the Jags eight-point run kept them ahead at 41-27.
- A buzzer beater three pointer from Dee Haymer at the end of the half gave South a 44-31 advantage as they headed into the locker room. 
- Two three pointers from Ferguson in the third quarter kept the Jags in a double-digit lead, however, the Eagles eight point run at the end of the period narrowed that lead to seven at 45-52. 
- Powell added two in the final minute with a layup for a score of 54-45 going into the fourth. 
- South Alabama was unable to score in the fourth quarter until the final 47 seconds of the contest when Haymer's layup broke up Georgia Southern's 23 points for the period which allowed the team to overcome the Jags for a 68-56 final score. 

NOTES
-  Georgia Southern has now won three straight games over South, giving the team its longest win streak in the overall series. 
- The Jags went six-for-six at the line for their first perfect free throw percentage of the season.
- For the fourth time this season South shot less than 30 percent from the field. 
- This is the second straight game the Jags have recorded at least 10 three-point field goals. 
- Ferguson was responsible for five of the team's three pointers, leaving her one shy of her career best which she set at Georgia State last season. 
- Powell has recorded a double-digit scoring total in all but two conference contests.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
-Opening Statement: "I'm really pleased. I thought we came out in the first half with great energy, I thought we shot the ball extremely well. We did some really good things on the defensive end of the floor as well. We took care of the basketball, we put ourselves in a position to look good going into the second half. Unfortunately, then shots didn't fall for us in the second half. They changed up some things defensively and picked up the press because they were scoring more so they were able to press us which slowed us down. I felt like we weren't as aggressive in the second half but also when you only score 12 points in the second half its hard to beat anybody."

-On missing opportunities: "There were a couple shots that I thought if we made it that would 'slow the bleeding' but it just did everything but go in the basket. We had a few of those that rolled around and came out but if we had gotten a few of those opportunities then that could have changed things. We could have gone down and gotten the stop then maybe come back up for another basket. Unfortunately, the ball didn't come our way." 

-On looking ahead to Saturday: "I told our team that I was really disappointed for them. They had a couple good days of practice and they fought hard in the first half, some things didn't go our way in the second half, but we have to build on it and figure out how to put 40 minutes together." 

Senior F Casey Ferguson
-On her performance: "I wasn't really thinking I was just shooting. I have been shooting more than I ever have. Sometimes you just can't think you just have to do it and hope that your work shows."

-On tonight's loss: "In the fourth quarter we only scored two points so the scoring really took a toll. We discussed as a team that maybe we were a little more conservative and stopped playing with that same effort at the end of the game." 

-On moving forward to Saturday: "We made some huge strides this week in practice but I think there are still some things we need to highlight. We have been going through some things these past few weeks, but I think this week of practice did reflect in the first half of this game so now we just have to bring it all together for four quarters on Saturday."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will host Georgia State at 3 p.m. on Feb. 19.    

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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