University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Team Opens Exhibition Season
10/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team will showcase its talents, opening the season with exhibition games against West Alabama, Sunday Nov. 1, at 2 p.m., followed by Mobile University, on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., in Reed Green Coliseum.
Fans can get a sneak preview of the 2009-10 Lady Eagles as admission is free. Southern Miss is coming off a 20-12 season in which the Lady Eagles fell just short of advancing to postseason play.
The Lady Eagles return eight letterwinners, but only one starter. Heading the list of returnees is preseason All-Conference USA selection Pauline Love (Luxora, Ark.), who led the team in scoring (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg) last season. Also returning is senior Candace Rucker (Memphis, Tenn. - 6.6 ppg), juniors Tanesha Washington (Clarksdale, Miss. - 7.3 ppg), who earned the Sixth Player of the Year award, Lauren Pittman (Waynesboro, Miss.), Robin Murphy (Conyers, Ga.) and Brittany Johnson (Jackson, Miss.). Rounding out the returnees are sophomores Erin Gatling (Van Buren, Ark.) and Whitney McNelis (Hattiesburg, Miss.).
Coach Joye Lee-McNelis is entering her sixth season at Southern Miss and her 19th overall. McNelis welcomes four newcomers to the 2009-10 squad, juniors Geneshia Dunbar (Dallas, Texas) and Ashlee Kelly (Victoria, Australia) and freshmen Kassietta "Dutchess" Brown (West Monroe, La.) and Danielle Johnson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
Southern Miss opens the regular season Nov. 14 when the Lady Eagles host South Alabama at 4 p.m.
