University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Travel for Second Matchup with Memphis
2/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2012
| Watch LIVE! 
| Tip: 7:00 p.m. CT
The Lady Eagle contest can be heard on WHXB-FM 96.5 or at www.SouthernMiss.com with Josh West, voice of the Lady Eagles, providing the play-by-play action.
Southern Miss Preview
The Lady Eagles are coming off a tough loss to UAB, 65-59, in Birmingham where UAB had to overcome a 19-point deficit for the win. Nitesha Pierce scored a team-high 20 points while Jamierra Faulkner tossed in 14 points and handed out eight assists. Tanecka Carey chipped in 12 points. The Lady Eagles shot 50 percent for the game including 72.2 percent in the first half.
Carey continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding at 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game with Faulkner is next at 15.5 points per contest. As a team, USM is shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 61.9 percent from the line while averaging 59.9 points and 36.5 rebounds per outing.
Scouting Memphis
Memphis is riding a five-game winning streak into the contest after a 69-56 win over East Carolina on Sunday. Jasmine Lee scored a game-high 20 points and collected 11 rebounds to lead the Memphis offensively. Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir tossed in 12 points while Ramses Lonlack and Nicole Dickson added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Tiger defense forced ECU into 23 turnovers and scored 20 points as well as being aided by 24 second chance points.
Three Tigers are averaging in double figure scoring with Brittany Carter leading the way. Jasmine Lee is right behind at 15.4 and Nicole Dickson chips in 13.4 points per game. Lee and Dickson control the boards for Memphis as the duo is averaging 8.6 and 8.7 rebounds per game, respectively. As a team, the Tiger offense is averaging 72.8 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 60 percent from the line. Memphis is averaging 42.8 rebounds per contest while holding a +4.1 rebound margin. The Tigers also rely heavily on its defense as opponents are averaging just 59.4 points per game and coming up with 11.9 steals per game. Coach Melissa McFerrin is in her fourth season at Memphis.
The Series: Southern Miss vs. Memphis
Memphis leads the all-time series, 29-23, after defeating Southern Miss in an earlier matchup. This is the second longest running series with an opponent. This will be the 53rd meeting between the two teams dating back to 1976-77, the first season of varsity status.
What's Next?
Following the Memphis game, Southern Miss returns home to host East Carolina on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
