Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. -  A 10-2 run to open the second half erased a 1-point Northwestern State halftime lead as South Alabama managed to keep the Lady Demons at arm's length away in a 64-51 women's college basketball game Monday night.

NSU's Trudy Armstead recorded her second double-double of the season with team highs in points (16) and rebounds (12) and Jordi James added 11 points, but the Lady Demons fell to 1-3 on the season, including 0-3 away from home.

South Alabama (3-0) had three players score in double figures with Taylor Ammons pacing the way with 16 points.

The two teams battled back and forth for much of the first half until a steal and a basket by Meredith Graf gave the Lady Demons a 27-26 halftime lead.

USA scored the first points of the second half on a layup by Mary Nixon, but NSU's Ronikka Drake put NSU back on top at 29-28 after her layup with 18:02 to play in the game.

Over the next two minutes, the Jaguars mounted an 8-0 run to go up 36-29 with 16:12 left before James snapped the streak with a jumper to make it 36-31 with 15:51 to play.  Four more straight points by USA was followed by a 3-pointer by James and a jumper and free throw by Armstead as NSU cut the deficit to 40-37 with 12:43 left to play.

The two teams swapped buckets as South Alabama held a 42-39 lead with 11:54 to play when the Lady Demons went cold from the field, missing their next four shots and two free throws.  Meanwhile, USA scored seven consecutive points to take a 49-39 advantage – its largest of the game, with 8:59 to play.

Armstead snapped the drought with a short jumper then sank another jumper a minute later to cut the Jaguar lead to 49-43 with 7:15 left.

South Alabama followed that with three consecutive three-point goals to take a 58-43 lead and put the game away.

The Lady Demons hit just 33 percent of their shots from the floor, but after sinking 38 percent in the first half, made just 28 percent in the second.  NSU was also just 4 of 17 for 24 percent from 3-point range.

South Alabama reversed its fortune in shooting much like the Lady Demons.  But things were better for the Jaguars in the second half as they hit 35 percent from the floor in the frame as compared to just 25 percent shooting in the first half.  The Jaguars also knocked down 7 of 28 from long range.

The largest disparity came in the rebounding department where USA dominated the boards with a 65-32 advantage, and in return, knocked down 19 second chance points.  The 65 rebounds set a new arena record.

The Lady Demons will return home on Friday with a game against Loyola of New Orleans in the first game of a doubleheader with the NSU men's team.