University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Basketball Team Hosts SMU
1/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2011
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 • Hattiesburg, Miss.
Tip-off: 7 p.m. (central)
Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
Radio: WXHB-FM 96.5
TV: None
Ranking (AP/Coaches): None
Southern Miss: Joye Lee-McNelis (Southern Miss, '84)
96-107 at Southern Miss (Seven seasons); 325-263 (20 seasons)
SMU: Rhonda Rompola (SMU, '83)
361-228 at SMU (20 seasons); Career Same
Lady Eagle Fast Break Points
• Southern Miss is 8-11 overall and 3-3 in the league after a thrilling 70-67 overtime win against East Carolina
• Southern Miss played back-to-back overtime games for the first time ever
• Southern Miss has played three overtime games this season matching the most since 1995-96 and 1997-98 seasons
• Rachel Vigers and Jamierra Faulkner earned C-USA Player and Freshman of the Week honors
• The Lady Eagles own a 107-128 record in conference games in C-USA
• Three Lady Eagles tallied double-doubles led by junior Rachel Vigers with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds, freshman Jamierra Faulkner scored 16 points to go with 11 assists and Geneshia Dunbar added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Niesha Pierce chipped in 10 points
• Freshman Jamierra Faulkner was one rebound shy of a triple-double against Tulane (1/20) as she dished out 11 assists to go with her 24 points and two steals
• Three players are averaging in double figure scoring led by junior Rachel Vigers at 16.8, followed by Tanesha Washington at 12.8 and Jamierra Faulkner at 11.7 points per game
• Washington leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 rebounds per game
• Jamierra Faulkner leads the league and the team in assists while ranking among the national leaders
• As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 62.2 points and 40.9 rebounds per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 65.1 percent from the line.
A Look at SMU
SMU is 10-8 overall and 3-2 in the league after posting an 81-79 win over UTEP. Alisha Filmore hit a pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left to give SMU the win. Haley Day and Christine Elliott led the way with a team-high 17 points apiece. Filmore and Samantha Mahnesmith scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Day and Elliott also posted a team-high seven rebounds.
Coach Rhonda Rompola is in her 20th season at SMU and returns nine letterwinners including two starters from last year's team that finished 20-11 and played in the first round of the WNIT. Elliott and Delisha Wills lead the team with 10.9 points per game averages with Mahnesmith next at 10.7. Elliott also leads the team in rebounding with 8.1 boards per game.
As a team, SMU is averaging 68.6 points and 38.6 rebounds while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 71.6 percent from the line.
The Series
This is the eighth meeting between the two teams dating back to the 1988-90 season. SMU leads the overall series against Southern Miss, 5-2. The two teams faced each other for the first time on Nov. 24, 1989, in Dallas with the Lady Eagles winning that matchup. SMU has won five of last six meetings including last year's contest in Dallas.
What Next?
The Lady Eagles travels to Memphis, Tenn., to face Memphis on Sunday in a televised game (CSS) at 6 p.m.
