ELLIS, LEWIS HELP LEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PAST NEW ORLEANS 67-45
MOBILE, Ala. – Senior Chyna Ellis recorded her second double-double of the season and freshman Antoinette Lewis scored a career-high 18 points as the South Alabama women's basketball team (3-1) dominated New Orleans (1-4) in a 67-45 victory at the Mitchell Center on Friday.

Lewis was the team's leading scorer and added six boards, a pair of steals and a pair of assists to go with her career-high in points. Lewis shot 6-for-11 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Ellis collected 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and 13 rebounds for the double-double. The senior center also dished out a career-high six assists to lead all players in the game, while rejecting three shots and a steal.

Senior Genesis Perrymond and redshirt freshman Savannah Jones each went 3-of-8 from the field. Perrymond recorded nine points, an assist, a steal and a block while Jones had eight points, five boards, two blocks and a helper.

GAME FACTS
- The Jags shot better than 35 percent from the field in all four quarters, including 50 percent in the third and fourth quarters.
- USA outrebounded UNO 46 to 42, but dominated the defensive glass 31 to 20.
- Despite being out rebounded 22 to 15 on the offensive glass, South Alabama scored 20 second chance points to New Orleans' four.
- The Jag defense held the Privateers to just 24.2 percent from the field, including five percent (1-20) in the third quarter. UNO also went the final 5:41 of the second quarter without a field goal.
- USA dominated the paint and points off the bench outscoring UNO 36 to 12 and 32 to 9 respectively in each category.
- South Alabama held New Orleans' second-leading scorer Shania Woods to only two points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field. Coming into the contest Woods averaged 10 points per game.
- The two teams each committed 25 turnovers, with New Orleans scoring 25 points and South Alabama scoring 24 off the takeaways.
- UNO's Randi Brown shot 8-of-19 from the field collecting a game-high 27 points. Brown averaged 23.3 points per game in the Privateers' first four games.
- The Jags led by as much as 33 and led for over 37 minutes of tonight's matchup.
- The Jags did not have a shot blocked on the evening and turned away nine Privateer attempts.

NOTES
- USA has taken 10 of the last 11 matchups between the programs.
- Ellis cracked the top-10 in career-rebounds passing Jessica Webb for sole possession of 10th in program history.
- Seniors LaNeetra Guillory and Erin Autio each went 3-of-7 from field for seven points, a season-high for both players.
- Senior Candice Williams tied for the game-high in steals with three.
- Freshman Jayla Morrow scored the first points of her career with a three-pointer.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Terry Fowler
Opening Statement: "It's great to get a win. We didn't have a let-down after the big win in North Carolina. We talked all week about this game being a trap game for us. We came out and really played well, especially in the second quarter. We haven't talked a lot about our defense this year as much as we have in the past, but the one thing that always has to be constant is our defense. I thought in the first half we played really good defense. The one thing we're probably the most disappointed in is the amount of turnovers tonight. We left some opportunities on the floor. They made a run, which they have done most of the season, late in ball games. We made some key shots to hold them at bay."

On using actual mouse traps this week: "It's just one of the things we talked about. I had been out of town recruiting, and I came in and told our Director of Basketball Operations, J.D. Brooks, that I needed him to run to the dollar store and get me some mouse traps. So we had about five mouse traps and placed them in different spots throughout the locker room where they could see them. Today they actually went into certain people's lockers, the seniors, to remind them. We just couldn't have any let down. I was just proud of the fact that we didn't."

On what to build from tonight: "We're sharing the basketball and moving it. That was really big for us, and we want to continue to do that. Now we have two games on the road this week. We just have to continue to be a tight unit, move the basketball and share. We have a lot of different weapons so I don't think you can just load up on one player. There are a lot of people able to score the basketball. Again, now our defense has to go with us on the road."

On a good lead at halftime and really sealing the deal in the third quarter: "We got stops, rebounded the ball and then pushed it and got some easy buckets. I thought the transition baskets that we got in the third quarter really spread the gap on them. Then we were just able to hold on from there."

Antoinette Lewis
On what was working for her tonight: "I was able to read the double. When they doubled me I tried to find the open player, and when they didn't, I went and scored one-on-one."

On how important it was to stay focused and get a dominate win: "It was very important. Like coach said, we talked over and over again about not letting this game be a mouse trap, not come and be disappointed. We're also working really hard to not lose any home games. That's what we're working towards."

Chyna Ellis
On how important it was to stay focused and get a dominate win: "It's big because like they both said, he's been walking around with actual mouse traps. Just making sure we stay focused and continue our momentum through the rest of the season."

On the key to staying focused: "We had to slow down, read the defense and get the ball to the open player."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars go back on the road to take on Alabama State on Tuesday in Montgomery. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

PANTHERS RALLY FROM BIG DEFICIT TO WIN AT HOME
ATLANTA - Down 21 to visiting VCU, Georgia State outscored the Rams 41-19 in the second half to kickoff the 2017-18 home schedule with a 61-56 victory at the GSU Thanksgiving Classic Friday.

Three Panthers finished in double digits with Madison Newby and K.K. Williams leading the way with 15 points each. Kierra Henry totaled 13 points and also grabbed five rebounds and five assists. Arguably Newby's best moments of the game came in the final 60 seconds as she went 6-for-6 from the free throw line to seal the deal. As a team, Georgia State was an astounding 22-for-26 from the stripe.

Nothing was going Georgia State's way in the first half as the Panthers found themselves down 37-20 at the break. But GSU responded in the third quarter led by 10 points from Williams to make it a 51-44 game in favor of VCU heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, Francesca Minali grabbed five of her eight rebounds as GSU held VCU to 13% shooting from the field to finish off the massive comeback. The 21-point rally is the biggest comeback for GSU since the Panthers overcame 23 points against Belmont on Nov. 27, 2013.

True freshman Deja Mitchell played some quality minutes Friday, picking up eight points and seven rebounds. Victoria Middlebrooks added four points to go with a pair of steals.

For the game, GSU outrebounded the Rams 36-33 and scored 26 points off 22 VCU turnovers.

Up next for Georgia State is WKU on Sunday at 2 p.m. as the GSU Thanksgiving Classic continues at the GSU Sports Arena.

Lady Mavs Cruise Past Fresno, Win Fifth Straight
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Behind a strong performance from Rebakah VanDijk, the UTA Lady Mavs posted a 67-54 win over Fresno State to win their fifth consecutive game to open the season on Friday afternoon at College Park Center.

For the first time in program history, the Lady Lady Mavs have opened consecutive seasons with 5-0 starts, with the 1977-78 team owning the school mark with seven straight wins to open the year. UTA has wins over Incarnate Word, Oral Roberts, UTSA and SMU to kick off the season as it heads on the road for four of the next five against Power 5 teams.

UTA (5-0) used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to build an insurmountable lead over Fresno State (1-3) and held off a second-half rally from the Bulldogs to earn its fifth consecutive win.

LEADING THE LADY MAVS
A native of Nazareth, Texas, VanDijk led the way for the UTA offense, collecting 19 points and six rebounds, while adding a pair of blocked shots. UTA also got 15 points and six rebounds from Crystal Allen – a game after her game-winning 3-pointer vs. SMU. Shelby Richards added nine points, with Lauren McGowen sporting six points, a team-best eight assists and seven rebounds. Jennifer Parker grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds.

NEXT
UTA returns to action on Monday, traveling to face Utah at 7 p.m. CT.

FIRST QUARTER
After jumpers from VanDijk and Allen opened the scoring in the game for the Lady Lady Mavs, Fresno answered with a 7-0 run to take its first lead. Parker's jumper and a free throw from McGowen evened the game up before the Bulldogs took a 10-8 lead into the media timeout. The Lady Mavs answered with a 10-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. After Fresno stopped the run, Allen answered with a triple from the wing and sank a free throw to lift the Lady Mavs to a 22-12 lead after the first stanza.

SECOND QUARTER
A free throw from VanDijk and a jumper from Parker stretched UTA's lead to 25-12. After a triple from Fresno State, Coach Krista Gerlich used a timeout with the Lady Mavs leading 27-19 with 6:37 left in the first half. Lauren Billie answered a Fresno State run with her first three of the night, giving the Lady Mavs a 33-24 lead with just under four minutes remaining. VanDijk's post move and basket extended UTA's lead back to double digits and after McGowen collected a defensive rebound and sank a free throw, the Lady Mavs owned a 36-24 advantage with two minutes left. UTA's defensive effort shined as the Lady Mavs forced seven straight misses from Fresno to end the half, taking a 41-25 lead.

THIRD QUARTER
The Lady Mavs stretched their lead to open the third behind a bucket from VanDijk. Fresno fought back to cut the lead to 47-34 at the media timeout and Richards beat the shot clock with a nifty drive to the basket to give the Lady Mavs a 50-36 lead. Fresno State's Maddi Utti nailed a buzzer beating triple to end the quarter with the Lady Mavs leading 50-39.

FOURTH QUARTER
The teams traded buckets to open the fourth before the Lady Mavs ripped off a 6-0 run, holding Fresno scoreless for a three-minute period, to take a 58-45 lead with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. The Lady Mavs held off the late-game charge from the Bulldogs to earn the win.

Nebraska Holds On to Defeat Coastal in San Juan Shootout
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Coastal Carolina women's basketball team suffered its second loss in the 2017 San Juan Shootout Friday afternoon, falling 55-47 to Nebraska at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center.

Senior guard Jas Adams scored a career high of 28 points in the game, including 10 of Coastal's 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Chants (3-3) fought back from a double figure deficit.

Nebraska's (4-2) lead of 10 points at the seven minute mark of the fourth quarter was cut in half with two minutes remaining after Adams singlehandedly sent Coastal on an 8-2 run. The Chants were held off the board for the remainder of regulation, however, and Nebraska hit a 3-pointer with a minute remaining for the eight-point final margin.

The Cornhuskers made 11 3-pointers for the game, including nine baskets from beyond the arc in the second half. Nebraska's Taylor Kissinger led the Huskers with 15 points, all coming from 3-point makes. Kissinger was the only Nebraska player to score in double figures, though Emily Wood and Nicea Eliely both finished with nine points.

Nebraska held only slight advantages in total baskets (21-19), rebounds (34-33) and assists (15-12). The Chants held a five-point advantage at the free throw line, and committed three fewer turnovers. Coastal also had 13 steals to Nebraska's six, including a game-high six steals for Adams.

DJ Williams scored 11 points on 5-of-9 from the floor and a make from the line. No other Chanticleer had more than four points.

Coastal trailed Nebraska by four points following the first quarter, but held the Cornhuskers to just three baskets and a 23.1 shooting percentage in the second quarter. The Chants closed the first half on a 10-2 run to take a three-point lead, their first of the game, into halftime.

Three of Nebraska's first four baskets of the second half came from beyond the arc, giving the lead back to the Cornhuskers. The lead stayed with Nebraska for the remainder of the game as it continued to convert its chances from beyond the arc.

Adams' 28-point performance came less than a week after setting a previous career high with 25 points in a win over UNC Wilmington. Adams has scored in double figures in all six of Coastal's games this season, including 15 or more points in five of those six games.

Coastal has nearly a week off before returning to action at the HTC Center, where it will play its next three games. The Chants host College of Charleston on Nov. 30, followed by games against Fort Wayne (Dec. 4) and North Carolina Central (Dec. 8). All three games tip-off at 6 p.m.

Trojans End Texas Road Trip with 58-51 Loss at Rice
HOUSTON – A 16-point lead evaporated for Little Rock women's basketball as it took a 58-51 loss to Rice on Friday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Freshman guard Tori Lasker led the Trojans (1-3) with 13 points while earning four assists and four rebounds. Raeyana DeGray led the Trojans with a career-high 10 rebounds (five offensive and five defensive) and had four points. Monique Townson tied a season high with six assists while scoring seven points and earning four steals. Anna Hurlburt led the game with three blocks and had a career-high eight boards.

Erica Ogwumike led the Owls (5-0) and the game with 29 points and five steals. She was 9 for 15 from the field, 3 for 5 from three and 8 for 11 at the foul line.

Little Rock began the game with a 16-11 lead over Rice as the Trojans shot 35.3 percent (6 for 17) from the field while hitting 2 of 6 three-point tries. The Trojans outrebounded the Owls 15-6 in the first quarter as Raeyana DeGray tied her career high with five.

The Trojans ended the half with a 33-26 lead over the Owls. Little Rock shot 41.2 percent (7 for 17) in the second quarter while Rice shot 40 (4 for 10) and was 2 for 5 from three. Little Rock built itself a 16-point lead at 33-17, but the Owls came storming back with a 9-0 run to end the quarter. Raeyana DeGray tallied her career-high sixth rebound in the second quarter. 11 of Little Rock's 33 points in the first half came off turnovers.

With just under seven minutes to play in the third quarter, Rice went on a 9-0 run to cut Little Rock's lead to one at 40-39. After the Trojans went back up by three with 45 seconds remaining, Little Rock allowed Rice to hit a buzzer beater and tie the game at 44. The Trojans were 4 for 12 in the quarter while the Owls were 4 for 14. Rice drained three three-pointers and was 7 for 8 from the charity stripe. Nine of the Owls' 18 points came off turnovers.

The fourth quarter was all Rice as it began the quarter with another 9-0 run. The Owls outscored the Trojans 14-7 in the final quarter of play as Little Rock didn't score its first basket of the quarter until there were four and half minutes left in the game. Rice shot 55.6 percent (5 for 9) while Little Rock shot a dismal 21.4 (3 for 14).

Little Rock finished the contest with the advantage in rebounds (40-30), assists (14-10), free-throw percentage (75-72) and fewer turnovers (16-15). Rice had the advantage in field-goal percentage (38.6-33.3), three-point field-goal percentage (30-25), blocks (5-4) and steals (9-7). Little Rock also got itself into foul trouble as it committed 24 fouls for the game — its most since racking up 25 against Oklahoma in 2015.

The Trojans will return to action against Oklahoma at the Jack Stephens Center on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.