MOBILE, Ala. – Behind five Jaguars in double-digits, South Alabama earned a dominant 93-57 win over Tougaloo College at home to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Jaguars are 3-0 to begin a season for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
 
Rachel Leggett had a career night in the win, totaling a career-high 17 points, with seven field goals and three three-pointers. The sophomore guard went 7-for-9 from the field and drained 3-of-4 threes. She also tied her career-highs in rebounds (5) and assists (4) and added three steals, another career-high.
 
Four other Jaguars joined Leggett in double figures, with Kelsey Thompson totaling 16, Zena Elias and Tyrielle Williams both adding 13 points and Kiana Anderson finishing with 12. South Alabama had five Jags in double-figures for the first time since a 69-54 win over ULM on Jan. 13, 2022.
 
Thompson led the team in rebounding for the fourth time in her career in the win, bringing down nine boards. Elias also added eight.
 
The Jaguar squad shot 52% from the field, the first time South Alabama shot 50% or better since Feb. 6, 2021, vs Coastal Carolina. The win was also South's first 30-point win since a 70-40 victory over Mobile in 2020.
 
The win was the third game of Leggett's career in double figures, the 16^th for Anderson, the 17^th for Thompson, the fifth for Elias and the third for Williams.
 
South used a defensive-dominant third quarter to build up their lead, holding Tougaloo to just 10 points while scoring 23 of their own. South's biggest lead on the night came in the fourth quarter when a three by Williams gave South a 37-point lead.
 
The Bulldogs were led by Morgan Williams, who finished the night with 24 points, while Shawanda Gray added 11 points.
 
GAME FACTS

• South Alabama and Tougaloo were tied 6-6 after three minutes of play, but South went on a 13-3 run 2 run to take a 19-8 lead with three left in the quarter.
• South kept applying pressure, leading 26-14 after one quarter.
• Both teams started the second quarter in a drought, going two minutes without a basket until Kiana Anderson hit a layup with seven minutes left in the quarter to extend the lead for the Jaguars.
• South Alabama went on a run where they made 5-for-5 field goals, extending their lead to 39-20.
• South went on to lead 45-27 at the half.
• The Jaguars took their biggest lead of the night so far halfway through the third, up 63-31 on the Bulldogs.
• South held the Bulldogs to a 10-point third quarter while scoring 23 of their own to lead 68-37 with one quarter to go.
• South Alabama kept applying pressure, while holding the Tougaloo offense to 20 points in the fourth quarter, getting the 93-57 win over the Bulldogs.

 
NOTES

• Rachel Leggett led the Jags with a career-high 17 points for the first time in her career.
• South had five finish in double figures for the first time in a 69-54 win at ULM on Jan. 13, 2022.
• South's 93 points are a team-high this season and the most from a Jaguar squad since South scored 95 vs Coastal Carolina, on Feb. 6, 2021.
• The Jaguar squad shot 52% from the field, the first time South Alabama had shot 50% or better since Feb. 6, 2021 vs Coastal Carolina.
• The win was also South's first 30-point win since a 70-40 victory over Mobile in 2020.
• Thompson led the team in rebounding for the first time this season.
• South is 3-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
• Zena Elias was perfect from the free-throw line (3-3).

 
QUOTABLE
Head coach Yolisha Jackson:
On the win and controlling the game:
"I told the team, I don't care who you play, but when you are able to score 93 points and keep a team under 60 and shoot the basketball at 52%, you are a really good team. These games can go either way, we see that all over the country. There were spots where we need to clean it up and we've got to fix that and keep our intensity up, but anytime you score 93, shooting it how we shot it and kept a team under 60, that's a good night."
 
On the improvement of free throws:
"One thing we talk about is getting to the free throw line and then a lot not fouling. They only attempted seven and we attempted 27, those are good numbers, but we can still fix a few of those things. I have been so proud of this team for investing in their free throws. We said coming into this, we want to be a good free-throw shooting team. They have been shooting them and charting them and you can see the confidence when we go to the line."
 
On what she has learned about the team:
"I've learned we still have a long ways to go, but this team is resilient. One thing they will get from myself and my staff and we will be hard on them, we won and we won good, but we will watch the film and come back and fix some things. We are always raising the expectation level. This team meets us there. I love the fact that this team has taken on my personality, they just keep fighting and then wanting more and seeking more."   
 
Sophomore Rachel Leggett:
On the team in general:
"I think us sharing the ball and being able to communicate is big. The chemistry on and off the court is really helping. We are at ease in the mind and not getting frustrated."
 
On her performance:
"I think my team was just able to find me in open spots. Coach Yo told us before the game to be confident and shoot our shots, so that made me confident to take the shots."
 
On preparing for Florida State:
"We need to be more aggressive but also try to not get as many fouls. We need to sit down on defense. They are a really athletic team. We need to do what we do and play at our pace."
 
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