University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Take Classic Title, 64-58
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Files associated with this release:
Southern Miss-Texas A&M-CC Box Score
MVSU-Radford Box Score
Lady Eagles Take Classic Title, 64-58
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss used a balance scoring attack, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 64-58, in the championship game of the Hattiesburg Inn on the Hill Classic in women's basketball action Saturday.
"Every night you face a different challenge," Head Coach Rick Reeves said. "I'm disappointed in our free throw shooting which could have iced the game. We need to make team pay if they are going to send you to the free throw line. Free throw shooting is repetition."
Southern Miss led 29-27 at the half after battling back from a five point deficit. Southern Miss took its first lead of the half with only 18 seconds remaining on a Denise Wilson jumper. Southern Miss actually led the game, 57-45, with 2:27 remaining in the game. However, the visitors then outscored Southern Miss 11-3, cutting the lead to four points, 60-56, with 32 seconds remaining. The Lady Eagles managed to hit four free throws in the last 18 seconds to secure the win.
Southern Miss, now 6-0 and off to one of its better starts, was led by Deondra Carter's 15 points, followed by Lana Lewis and Denise Wilson with 12 points each and Tierra Lassiter added 11 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Lady Eagles. Terra Andrews led A&M-Corpus Christi (6-2) with 13 points and Lindsey Van Dorn added 10 points. The Lady Eagles out rebounded the Islanders, 43-32, including 16 offensive boards.
This is the 14th time the Lady Eagles have won their own Classic out of 16 tries. Southern Miss shot .471 (24-51) while the visitors connected on .381 (24-63), including only 8-of-28 from three-point range.
Lassiter was named the Classic's most outstanding player and Carter was named to the all-tournament along with Andrews and Kirbria Lewis of A&M-Corpus Christi, Amanda Neby and Robin Kantin of Radford.
In the consolation game, Radford defeated Mississippi Valley State, 80-43. Neby led all scorers with a game-high 28 points and Kantin added 11 for the Highlanders. Natasha Booth led Valley with nine points.
Radford jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back. The Highlander defense held the Delta Devilettes to 223.6 percent shooting from the field. Radford connected on a school-record 28-of-29 free throws and held a rebounding edge, 46-33.
Southern Miss takes a week off to concentrate on final exams and returns to action, Dec. 13, hosting Sam Houston State at 7 p.m., in Green Coliseum.
