Lady Eagles Head West To Play In The Desert Draw
12/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team heads west to play in the Desert Draw, hosted by UNLV, Dec. 19-20. The Lady Eagles will face No. 22 Oklahoma State in the opening game at 3 p.m., central. Host UNLV and Cal State Northridge will play the second game at 5:30.
All the Lady Eagle games can be heard on WXHB-FM 96.5 with the new "Voice of the Lady Eagles" Josh West providing play-by-play action with former coach Kay James as the color analyst.
Southern Miss enters the tournament with a 5-5 record after a 72-61 loss to in-state rival Mississippi State Tuesday, in which Kendra Reed led the way with 16 points and Pauline Love added 13.
Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while Stephanie Helgeson is averaging 11.2 points. Both rank in the top 20 in scoring and rebounding in Conference USA.
Southern Miss is averaging 65.1 points and 40.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 67.8 percent from the line. The Lady Eagles have connected on 34-of-142 from behind the arc.
This is the first-ever meeting between Southern Miss and Oklahoma State. The Lady Eagles will play UNLV or Cal State Northridge, Saturday. Southern Miss has never played either team.
Oklahoma State comes into the game ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the Coaches' Poll with a 5-2 record. Head Coach Kurt Budke is in his fifth season and returns eight letterwinners, including three starters from last year's team that finished 27-8, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. Four players are averaging in double-figure scoring, Andrea Riley (20.4), Tegan Cunningham (13.4), Shaunte' Smith (11.3) and Kristin Hernandez (10.9). Smith also leads the team in rebounding, 8.6 boards per game. The Cowgirls are averaging 75.1 points and 41.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 68.6 percent from the line.
Cal State Northridge enters the tournament 1-8. Head Coach Staci Schulz is in her fourth season and returns nine letterwinners, including three starters from last year's team. Analee Viena-Lota leads the Matadors in scoring and rebounding, 8.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The Matadors are averaging 53.7 points and 35.6 rebounds per game.
UNLV is sporting a 4-4 record heading into the weekend. Head Coach Kathy Olivier is in her first season at UNLV and returns 11 letterwinners, including four starters from last year's team. The Lady Rebels are averaging 69.9 points and 39.0 rebounds, while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 65.6 percent from the line. They have connected on 51-of-143 three-pointers.
Following the Desert Draw, the Lady Eagles will take time off for the Christmas Holidays and return to action, Dec. 30 against Nicholls State.
