University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Team Hosts Rice
2/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - Southern Miss plays the second of a three-game homestand, when the Lady Eagles host Rice on Friday at 7 p.m. Women's basketball and the Athletics Department welcome back former players, coaches and staff in celebrating National Girls and Women's In Sports Day. The Lady Eagles try to snap a four-game losing streak.
The game will be broadcast over WXHB-FM 96.5 with the "Voice of the Lady Eagles" Jason Baker providing play-by-play action with former coach Kay James as the color analyst. The broadcast also is available on SouthernMiss.com.
Southern Miss (11-12, 5-5) is coming off a 69-65 loss SMU, its fourth-straight. Lauren Pittman led Southern Miss with a team-high 17 points, Amber Eugene had 15, and Liz Biland added 14 points and Kendra Reed chipped in 12 points. Biland and Eugene grabbed seven rebounds apiece.
Amber Eugene continues to team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, while Reed is second on the team at 15.8 points per game. Eugene also leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game. Kristin Chaney leads the team in assists (147) and steals (51).
As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 63.4 points and 37.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 74.4 percent from the line. The Lady Eagles are shooting 32.1 percent from three-point range. Reed leads the team with 52.
Rice comes into the game with a 13-10 overall record and 6-4 in the league, following a 71-68 loss to Tulane, snapping a four-game winning streak. Lauren Neaves led the Owls with 27 points and 18 rebounds.
Neaves leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 16.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Head Coach Greg Williams is in his second at Rice and owns a record of 31-24.
Following the Rice game, Southern Miss remains at home, hosting Houston on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.
SOMETHING ABOUT RICE
Rice had its four-game winning streak snapped after a 71-68 loss to Tulane. Senior forward Lauren Neaves leads the Owls in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 16.1 points and 11.1 rebounds. Two other players averaging in double-figures are Valeriya Brezhynska at 12.4 points and Kadie Riverin at 10.9 points. Riverin also leads the team in assists. The Owls are averaging 72.3 points and 43.7 rebounds per game. Rice leads the league in three categories, scoring offense, field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense. The Owls are holding their opponents to 36.7 percent shooting from the field.
ABOUT THE SERIES
This is the second meeting between the two teams and Rice leads the series 1-0, having won the last year's game, 77-64.
