JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas State women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from South Alabama and secure a 74-61 victory in a Sun Belt Conference matchup on Saturday at Convocation Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,086, saw the Red Wolves improve to 10-3 overall, while the visiting Jaguars fell to 7-5.

For much of the first half, the teams traded baskets and momentum in a tightly contested affair. Arkansas State held a narrow 16-12 lead after a first quarter characterized by early turnovers and physical play. The Red Wolves extended their advantage slightly by halftime, leading 29-22, as their defense forced 11 South Alabama turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The Jaguars, however, stayed within striking distance behind the interior presence of Cordasia Harris, who scored 10 of her game-high 22 points before the break.

The decisive shift came immediately after halftime. Arkansas State erupted for 26 points in the third quarter, nearly matching its entire first-half output. The Red Wolves’ offense found its rhythm, shooting efficiently while their defensive pressure intensified. A key sequence saw Crislyn Rose hit a 3-pointer and Mia Tarver convert a layup off an offensive rebound, stretching a seven-point lead to 12 in a matter of minutes. The Jaguars, meanwhile, managed only 17 points in the period and were plagued by six more turnovers, which Arkansas State converted into easy transition opportunities.

By the start of the fourth quarter, the Red Wolves had built a commanding 55-39 lead. South Alabama showed resilience, mounting a final push and outscoring Arkansas State 22-19 in the final frame, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. The Jaguars never closed the gap to single digits in the quarter, as the Red Wolves consistently answered every South Alabama basket.

Harris was a force for South Alabama, recording a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in 29 minutes. Diawna Carter-Hartley added 15 points, four assists and two blocks. Their efforts, however, were countered by a balanced Arkansas State attack that featured five players scoring between 14 and seven points.

Rose and Zyion Shannon each scored 14 points to lead the Red Wolves. Rose added three rebounds and three assists, while Shannon contributed three rebounds. Bella Weary provided a significant spark off the bench with 12 points in just 15 minutes. Tarver filled the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds and two assists, and Mimi McCollister directed the offense effectively with seven points, four rebounds and four assists.

The victory continued a strong start to the season for Arkansas State, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to predictive metrics. South Alabama, coming off a road loss at Southern Mississippi earlier in the week, has now dropped two consecutive games after a three-game winning streak.

Arkansas State will next travel to face in-state rival Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 28. South Alabama returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 1, with a conference road game at Louisiana-Monroe. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a rematch at South Alabama on Thursday, Jan. 8.