University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Basketball Team Travels to Memphis
1/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2011
Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 • Memphis, Tenn.
Tip-off: 6 p.m. (central)
Arena: FedExForum (18,400)
Radio: WXHB-FM 96.5
TV: CSS/CBS College Sports (Live)
Ranking (AP/Coaches): None
Southern Miss: Joye Lee-McNelis (Southern Miss, '84)
97-107 at Southern Miss (Seven seasons); 326-263 (20 seasons)
Memphis: Melissa McFerrin (Missouri, '83)
47-38 at Memphis (three seasons); 128-131 (Nine Seasons)
Lady Eagle Fast Break Points
• Southern Miss is 9-11 overall and 4-3 in the league after a 75-63 win over SMU
• 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 108-128 record in conference games in C-USA
• Four Lady Eagles tallied double-figure scoring led by freshman Jamierra Faulkner with a game-high 19 points to go with eight assists. Rachel Vigers and Niesha Pierce scored 17 points apiece while Tanesha Washington added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Washington missed the East Carolina game with an injury.
• Freshman Niesha Pierce tallied a season-high 17 points against SMU (1/27)
• 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 16.9, followed by Tanesha Washington at 12.9 and Jamierra Faulkner at 12.1 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 62.8 points and 41.0 rebounds per game while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 66.2 percent from the line.
A Look at Memphis
Memphis is 15-6 overall and 4-3 in the league after posting a 69-44 win over Marshall. Jasmine Lee led Memphis with 19 points, while Brittany Carter added 12 points with a game-high eight assists.
Coach Melissa McFerrin is in her third season at Memphis and returns eight letterwinners including four starters from last year's team that finished 20-14, advancing to the finals of the WBI. Carter and Lee lead the team with 13.6 and 12.6 points, respectively, per game. Lee also leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 boards per game.
As a team, Memphis is averaging 66.1 points and 42.7 rebounds while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 60.6 percent from the line.
The Series
This is the 50th meeting between the two teams dating back to the 1973-74 season. This is the second longest running series against an opponent. Memphis leads the overall series against Southern Miss, 27-22. The two teams faced each other for the first time in 1973-74 in Memphis, with the Tigers winning that matchup. Memphis has won four of last six meetings including both contests last year.
What Next?
The Lady Eagles return home to host Marshall on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
