University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Edge Gardner-Webb, 48-44
12/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Box Score
Lady Eagles Edge Gardner-Webb, 48-44
Senior guard Marlena Lee's three-pointer proved to be the game winner |
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss' Marlena Lee hit a three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining in the game to give Southern Miss a 47-44 lead and the Lady Eagles held to beat Gardner-Webb, 48-44 in women's basketball action here tonight. Southern Miss improved to 4-0 while Gardner-Webb dropped to 0-4.
Southern Miss led 29-25 at the half and both teams scored only 19 points in the second half. Southern Miss actually led the game 40-26 with 15:05 remaining in the game. However, the visitors then outscored Southern Miss 18-2 to take a 44-42 lead with 3:52 remaining. The Lady Eagles managed a pair of free throws in the ensuing 11:13.
Southern Miss then tied the score at 44, on a Deondra Carter jumper with 1:23 left and Lee's basketball then proved to be the difference. Gardner-Webb fouled four different times in the time remaining to eventually put Southern Miss at the line where Michelle Poindexter hit one of two with four seconds left to finish the scoring.
Southern Miss' Carter led all scorers with 17 points followed by Tierra Lassiter with 11 points for the Lady Eagles, the only two Southern Miss players in double figures. Sequenta Blackman led GWU with 16 points and Katie Gravel added 14 points. Poindexter led all rebounders with 10 as Coach Rick Reeves team out rebounded the Bulldogs, 42-33, including 13 offensive boards.
Southern Miss shot just .351 (20-57) but the visitors were even less proficient at .326 (15-46), after making just six baskets in the second half.
Southern Miss will host its own Hattiesburg Inn on the Hill Classic, Dec. 5-6. The Lady Eagles will play Mississippi Valley in the opening round at 6 p.m., followed Radford and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Consolation and championship games are scheduled 2 and 4 p.m., Saturday.
