PENSACOLA, Fla. – South Alabama women's basketball (14-17, 5-13) defeated Coastal Carolina on Wednesday in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, 80-70. The Jaguars will face Texas State in the third round at 11:30 a.m. CST on Thursday at Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla.

KEY MOMENTS:

• The contest began with both teams getting hot from beyond the arc. Four of the Jaguars' six field goals in the first quarter were three-pointers, and Chrysta Narcisse and Amyah Sutton split them. Narcisse scored four of South Alabama's six field goals in the quarter.
• Though the Jaguars drained three-consecutive three-pointers to open the second quarter, an 8-0 Chanticleer run would put them at a five-point deficit. 
• As the first half progressed, the game would continue to be close, neither team having more than a five-point lead. Meanwhile, the Jaguars would dominate from beyond the arc, averaging 57.1% at the half and earning a 39-34 lead.
• The Jaguars continued to dominate from downtown in the third quarter, draining another four threes to total 12 for the game. Diawna Carter-Hartley had an impressive performance, scoring 10 total points. She would lead the Jaguars to a six-point lead at the end of the quarter, 57-51.
• Chrysta Narcisse continued to play lights-out in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of the Jaguars' 23 points. Over half of the team's points would come from free-throws (13).
• South Alabama would outscore the Chanticleers 23-19 in the fourth quarter, earning the program the 80-70 victory.

 
KEY STATS:

• South Alabama earned the program's fifth consecutive victory for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
• The Jaguars' victory was their first in the second round of the SBC Tournament since the 2019-20 season, when they defeated UT Arlington 55-47 on March 11.
• Coming into the contest, the Jaguars were 0-5 for the season against opponents who scored 70 or more points against them.
• The Jaguars drained 12 three-pointers, their first time with 10 or more since they drained 10 against ULM on Jan. 10.
• Chrysta Narcisse scored a career-high 24 points and six free-throws, also tying her career-highs in field-goals (7) and three-pointers (4).
• South Alabama is averaging 41.2% from beyond the arc in the Sun Belt Tournament.
• The Jaguars earned their 14th win of the season, the most since the 2019-20 season (16).

QUOTED:
Yolisha Jackson, Head Coach:

• "I'm proud of our kids for trying to execute the game plan as much as possible and being willing and able to make adjustments. And then, down through the stretch, being really focused on the task at hand, just coming back to a focal point. The exciting thing is that we get to play tomorrow. I'm extremely happy that this group and their season gets to roll on."

Chrysta Narcisse, Guard:

• "Every day we get to go out and play another game. Right now it's win or go home, and we don't want to go home. It was fun to go out there and compete for as long as possible."

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE:

• The Jaguars will move on to the third round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and face Texas State for the third time this season.
• South Alabama is 6-16 against the Bobcats, the program splitting the season series, 1-1. Most recently, the Jaguars earned a road win over the Bobcats on Feb. 21 (64-59).
• A win for the Jaguars on Wednesday would be their first in the third round since the 2018-19 season, when they defeated Troy 87-74 on March 13. That Jaguar squad would go on to compete in the conference championship.

KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION:
Thursday's game will be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on StatBroadcast. Tickets may be purchased on Ticketmaster. Be sure to follow the Jags' social media for live updates.

FOLLOW THE JAGS:
For complete coverage of South Alabama women's basketball, visit the official home of South Alabama Athletics at usajaguars.com and follow the Jags on social media: @SouthAlabamaWBB (X), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaWBB (Instagram).