University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Open Home Conference Slate
1/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team plays its first Conference USA game at home after playing on the road for the first three games, when the Lady Eagles host UCF.
The Lady Eagle game can be heard on WXHB-FM 96.5 with the "Voice of the Lady Eagles" Josh West providing play-by-play action with former coach Kay James as the color analyst.
The Southern Miss Athletics Department will recognize the 2007-08 WNIT team in a pre-game ceremony. Also, the game has been designated a "Take a kid to the game" day. Kids get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Southern Miss is 9-7, 2-1 after a 74-65 win at Memphis in which Stephanie Helgeson and Pauline Love registered double-doubles. Helgeson led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Love added 16 points and 11 boards. Tanesha Washington tossed in 12 points.
Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, while Helgeson is averaging 10.4 points.
As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 69.3 points and 41.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 65.7 percent from the line. The Lady Eagles have connected on 65-of-212 from behind the arc.
UCF comes into the game riding a three-game winning streak with a 5-11 record and 3-0 in league play, after a 74-67 win at UAB. Chelsie Wiley led four players in double figures with 21 points, followed by Emma Cannon with 14, Aisha Patrick had 13 and Marshay White added 12.
Head Coach Joi Williams is in her second season at the helm and returns nine letterwinners, including four starters from last year's team. Emma Cannon leads UCF in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.5 points and 10.3 rebounds, while Chelsie Wiley adds 12.4 points. The Knights are averaging 66.1 points and 41.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the charity stripe.
This is the 14th meeting between the two teams and Southern Miss leads the series with UCF, 12-1. UCF won the last meeting (1/3), snapping a 12-game winning streak by the Lady Eagles.
Following the UCF game, the Lady Eagles host Houston, Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
