Lady Eagles to showcase talent in exhibition game
11/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lady Eagles to showcase talent in exhibition game
Head Coach Joye Lee McNelis set to make debut at alma mater |
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss basketball program begins a new era. The program, under direction of first-year coach Joye Lee-McNelis, plays its first exhibition game against the Perik Jumpers. The Lady Eagles are coming off a 14-13 season, returning only five letterwinners that includes the top scorer and rebounder.
Deondra Carter and Michelle Poindexter headline a young squad with the average age of 18.9. Carter led the team in scoring, averaging 12.9 points while Poindexter was the top rebounder at 6.9. Only three other players have actually had Division I playing experience. Sophomores Ashley Hoffman, Dianca Jones and Kimberly Rigg round out the 'experienced' players. Hoffman and Jones played in a combined 309 minutes last season, while Rigg played 81 minutes in 19 games.
Perik Jumpers, a team from the Netherlands, are 0-3 record, following 97-74 loss at Austin Peay. In that game, Melissa Pater and Ashlee Kelly led the Perik Jumpers with double-doubles. Pater had 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Kelly had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Following this exhibition game, Southern Miss opens the regular season against No. 2/3 LSU in Houma, La. Game time is set for 2 p.m.