JONESBORO, Ark. – South Alabama was down four with three left in the contest, but the late Jaguar rally came up short, falling 73-61 on the road to Arkansas State.
 
South Alabama had four finish in double figures for the fifth time this season, but 35 points from Izzy Higginbottom led an Arkansas State squad to their fifth Sun Belt Conference win of the season.
 
Michiyah Simmons and Emani Burks led the Jaguars with 14 points each, with Burks tying a career high. The contest was Simmons' 11^th game in double figures and the third for Burks this season.
 
Joining Simmons and Burks in double figures were Nadia Howard and Rachel Leggett, who added 12 and 10, respectively. Leggett led the team in rebounding for the third time this season, bringing down eight.
 
In her first career start, sophomore Naomi Smitherman played a career-high 19 minutes, totaling four points and four rebounds.
 
In addition to Higginbottom's 35 points, Lauryn Pendleton added 19 of her own, while Cheyenne Forney tacked on 10.
 
Arkansas State held the advantage in all shooting categories in Wednesday's contest, finishing the night shooting 44.2% from the field, 33.3% from deep and 75.9% from the stripe, while the visiting squad of South Alabama shot a 39.7% field goal percentage, 29.4% from behind the arc and 58.8% from the free throw line.
 
 
GAME FACTS

• South Alabama had the first points of the game before Arkansas State answered with eight points of their own.
• South answered with points of their own, tying the game at 13 all with two to play in the first quarter.
• South Alabama trailed 19-15 at the end of the first quarter but tied the game at 19 with two quick baskets at the start of the second quarter.
• South Alabama hit a scoring drought midway through the second, trailing 28-24 with four left in the first half.
• Arkansas State opened the second half with a 5-0 run, forcing the Jaguars to call a timeout.
• South Alabama hung with the Red Wolves through the third, trialing 51-48 with two to play in the third.
• Both teams hit a scoring drought midway through the fourth, with South Alabama down 64-58 with three to play.
• South Alabama could not battle back, dropping the contest 73-61.

 
NOTES

• Jordan Rosier is the only player to start all 22 games this season.
• Naomi Smitherman started the first game of her career.
• Smitherman also played a career-high 19 minutes.
• Michiyah Simmons and Emani Burks both totaled 14 points in the loss.

 
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