Women's Basketball Continues Preseason Practice, To Hold Media Luncheon
10/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- The Southern Miss Lady Eagle basketball team practiced for three hours today in Reed Green Coliseum, continuing preparations for its 2005 season.
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis said practice has gone well, but the team continues to be hampered by injuries.
"We're making some progress, but we still have a lot of injuries," McNelis said. "Shannon Stueber got her second concussion in a month today. That says one thing about her, she's on the floor fighting and scrapping. We're getting after each other and that's half the battle, when you compete everyday. She will be out for a little while, but she will bounce back. I appreciate her efforts and her energy."
McNelis said that sophomores Kelsey Gurganus (pulled muscle) and Hallie Prest (hip) have also been bothered by injury. The team also lost sophomore Emer Foley to a torn ACL last week in practice.
"We are low in numbers right now," McNelis said. "We've got a lot of blisters on our feet, but we're pushing through it. As a young team and with our shortage in numbers right now, we've got to hone in together as a team. The good thing about our injury situation is that we've gotten a lot of repetitions in practice with some of our other players."
While McNelis has been pleased with the way practice has progressed, she would still like to see improvement.
"We need to get better on transferring our drills to our game-like situations," McNelis said. "We've been working on our half-court man defense and we're doing well, but if you convert to offense and then back to defense, we forget where we're going."
McNelis said the team likely will scrimmage on Tuesday.
On Monday, Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m., McNelis will host the first annual media luncheon at her house. Media members are encouraged to RSVP to Chantay by calling 601-266-6260 or via email felita.dyess@usm.edu prior to, but not later than Noon, Thursday, October 27, 2005.
"We're excited about our first annual media day," McNelis said. "We need the media and want them to be our sixth man by supporting and covering us. By coming out, they will get to meet the players and our coaching staff and hear about our vision for the program. We want all people who cover Southern Miss and those that haven't to come out."
The team plays the Houston Jaguars in an exhibition game on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., before opening the 2005 season against Southern Utah at 7 p.m., in Reed Green Coliseum.
