MOBILE, Ala. – Patrice Butler posted 17 points and seven rebounds, and Georgia Southern held South Alabama to 27 percent shooting to earn the first Sun Belt Conference victory in its women's basketball history, a 67-53 triumph Saturday afternoon in the Mitchell Center.

The Eagles shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and led by as many as 33 points before settling for the 14-point victory. Georgia Southern put together its best game of the season, shooting 43 percent from the floor, 70 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free-throw line to go along with the effort on the defensive end.

Anna Claire Knight collected 15 points and five rebounds, while Angel McGowan tallied 14 points and two assists for Georgia Southern (4-9, 1-3). Briana Jones contributed nine points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Breanna Hall led South Alabama with 19 points, and Chyna Ellis scored 13 for the Jaguars (3-11, 0-5). Marquita Daniels finished with 11 points and four steals.

"I think we've been playing better and making strides in the last few weeks, and I think our kids believed in the improvements we've made over these first three conference games and really put it all together and played with the confidence of the team we know we can become," said Georgia Southern coach Chris Vozab. "It was a total team effort, and it's nice that they were rewarded with a tangible win."

After leading 30-22 at halftime, Georgia Southern scored the first nine points of the second frame to take control of the contest, and a McGowan triple made the margin 17 points. A Hall 3-pointer brought the Jags to within 14, but the Eagles blew the game open with a 24-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, a 64-31 advantage with 7:20 remaining. Knight scored 10 points during the stretch, and Butler capped it with a conventional 3-point play.

"It was a tremendous defensive effort – we were really locked in on that end of the floor and the confidence we gained from our defense helped us on the offensive end," said Vozab. "We talk all the time about imposing our will on each possession - one at a time - and we were able to do that for much of the game today."

The Eagles used a 9-2 run, capped by an Abby Hix 3-pointer from the wing, to open a 27-18 lead with 3:28 to play in the first half. Knight and Butler also hit triples during the spurt, and the Eagles went into the locker room with a 30-22 cushion. Georgia Southern held South Alabama to 25 percent shooting from the floor in the half while knocking down 5-of-7 from long distance on the other end. 

The return home to face UL Lafayette Thursday, Jan.15, in Hanner Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. All Sun Belt league games this season are doubleheaders with the men's team.

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