University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Travels to Tennessee State
12/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2010
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 • Nashville, Tenn.
Tip-off: 3 p.m. (central)
Arena: Gentry Center
Radio: WXHB-FM 96.5
TV: None
Ranking: None
Southern Miss: Joye Lee-McNelis (Southern Miss, '84)
92-99 at Southern Miss (Six Years);
321-255 (20 Years)
Tennessee State: Tracee Wells (Tennessee State, `98)
62-118 at TSU (Six Years)
Before the Tip
Southern Miss plays its third game on the road this season with a matchup against Tennessee State on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. The game will be carried live on the Southern Miss Sports Radio Network on WXHB-FM 96.5.
The Lady Eagles are 4-3 after a 48-47 win on Dec. 4 against UALR. Tanesha Washington and Rachel Vigers led the way with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The Lady Eagles overcame a 13-point second half deficit in posting the win and held UALR to four points over the last 15:18.
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis is in her seventh season at Southern Miss and her 21st overall.
Vigers continues to lead the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game average. Washington leads the team in rebounding at 8.0 caroms per game. Jamierra Faulkner has dished out 44 assists and collected 19 steals.
As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 64.7 points and 40.4 rebounds per game. The Lady Eagles are shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 60.7 percent from the line. Of the 12 active players, all but two have scored at least two points.
Scouting Tennessee State
Tennessee State enters the game with a 3-6 record after an 80-66 loss to Belmont. The Tigers have posted wins over Southern Illinois, Jackson State and Lipscomb. TSU has lost its last three games.
Tennessee State returns eight letterwinners including two starters from last year's team that finished 10-18. Meredith Stafford leads the team in scoring with an 11.3 per game average while Simone Hopes leads the team in rebounding with 5.9 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Tigers are averaging 57.3 points and 36.4 rebounds while shooting 36.1 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the line. TSU has connected on 52-164 from behind the arc.
The Series
This is third meeting between the two teams. Southern Miss leads the series, 2-0, in a series dating back to the 1993-94 season. The Lady Eagles won the initial meeting between the two teams in the first round of the 1994 NCAA Tournament. The two teams last played in 2008.
What Next?
Southern Miss returns home to host in-state rival Mississippi State on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on WXHB-FM 96.5 with the "Voice of the Lady Eagles" Josh West providing play-by-play action.
