Lady Eagles Lose At South Florida, 52-49
2/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Lady Eagles Lose At South Florida, 52-49
Tampa, Fla. - Southern Miss had its three-game win streak snapped here Sunday afternoon when South Florida posted a 52-49 victory over the Lady Eagles. The victory also snapped an 11-game losing streak on the part of USF.
Southern Miss outscored the Lady Bulls 26-23 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 29-23 edge South Florida enjoyed at halftime.
Southern Miss pulled down six more rebounds than did South Florida (46-40), shot better from the field (.347-to-.273) and made more field goals (17-15), but Head Coach Rick Reeves' team made only 12-of-21 (.571) free throws, while USF managed 18-of-25, a margin that proved to be the difference in the game.
The Lady Eagles were led by Allison Story who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Dana Jones and Jessica Woods added 11 each, and Woods led all rebounders in the game, with 12, to go with her 11 points. That double-double is her first of the season, and seventh of her Southern Miss career. Woods' 12-rebound total included seven off the offensive board, over half of USM's total of 13.
Southern Miss also turned it over 25 times, to 16 for the winners. USF used those turnovers to record a 17-6 edge in points scored off turnovers,
South Florida had just one player in double figures, that was enough as senior Aiya Shepard led all scorers, with 24 points. She made only three-of-16 field goals, but made good on 17-of-23 free throws, to account for all but one of her team's 18 points from the line.
Today's game wraps up a two-game road trip that saw the Lady Eagles win at UAB, 68-51. Southern Miss now returns home for games against TCU (Feb. 21) and Houston (Feb. 23), before going back on the road to close the regular season at Charlotte (Feb. 28) and at East Carolina (Mar. 2).