WKU opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a 74-65 loss at South Alabama without junior guard Alexis Govan, who sat out due to an injury in the lower region of her left leg.

The loss dropped the Lady Toppers to 22-8 all-time in conference-opening games, also marking the fifth-straight at the hands of South Alabama (3-8, 1-0 Sun Belt).

WKU (8-4, 0-1 Sun Belt) held a narrow advantage midway through the second half, but South Alabama went on to score nine unanswered points to gain the lead.

A three-point field goal by senior guard Chaney Means brought the Lady Toppers within two points with just over three minutes remaining, but WKU was unable to withstand the three-point shooting of South Alabama and fell 74-65 on the road. The Lady Jaguars made nine of their 12 three-point attempts.

Junior forward Chastity Gooch led the way for the Lady Toppers with 26 points. Senior guard Bianca McGee added 17.

Per WKU, Govan is in a protective boot and using crutches in order to speed up her recovery.

The Lady Toppers travel to Troy on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT to face the Lady Trojans in their second Sun Belt match up of the season.