Women's Basketball Hosts Alabama
12/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2010
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010 • Hattiesburg, Miss.
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
Radio: WXHB-FM 96.5
TV: None
Live Coverage: Video Streaming (a fee)/Live Stats
Ranking: None
Southern Miss: Joye Lee-McNelis (Southern Miss, '84)
93-102 at Southern Miss (Seven Years); 322-258 (21 Years)
Alabama: Wendell Hudson (Alabama, `73)
35-37 at Alabama (Three years/Same)
Before the Tip
Southern Miss plays its final game of the 2010 year, hosting Alabama in non-conference action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game will be carried live on the Southern Miss Sports Radio Network on WXHB-FM 96.5.
The Lady Eagles are 5-6 after back-to-back losses in the St. John's Chartwells Holiday Classic, Dec. 18-19. Rachel Vigers paced the Lady Eagles in scoring in the tournament with 19 (vs. St. John's) and 18 (vs. Fresno) points, respectively. Vigers finished the tournament with 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Jamierra Faulkner scored 14 and 15 points, respectively, against St. John's and Fresno.
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis is in her seventh season at Southern Miss and her 21st overall.
Vigers leads the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game while Tanesha Washington leads the team in rebounding at 8.3 caroms per game and is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points. Faulkner has dished out 68 assists and collected 27 steals while averaging 11.0 points.
As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 60.6 points and 40.5 rebounds per game. The Lady Eagles are shooting 39.5 percent from the field and 63.1 percent from the line. Of the 12 active players, all but one has scored at least two points.
Scouting Alabama
Alabama enters the game with a 10-2 record after winning five of its last six outings. The Crimson Tide defeated Alabama A&M, 67-62, in their last contest. The two losses were to Florida State and Kansas.
Alabama returns seven letterwinners including four starters from last year's team that finished 12-18. Coach Wendell Hudson is in his third season at Alabama. Tierney Jenkins leads the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game followed by Ericka Russell at 11.9. Jenkins also leads the team in rebounding at 11.4 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Crimson Tide is averaging 74.9 points and 44.8 rebounds while shooting 40.0 percent from the field and 60.1 percent from the line. Alabama has forced its opponents into 26.3 turnovers per game and is averaging 11.6 steals per game.
The Series
This is the sixth meeting between the two teams. Southern Miss leads the overall series, 3-2. The Lady Eagles won the first two meetings. The Crimson Tide won last year's meeting in Tuscaloosa.
What Next?
Southern Miss travels to Ruston, La., to start the New Year with a game against Louisiana Tech, Jan. 2.
