University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Basketball Opens Conference USA Play at Home
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Lady Eagle basketball team opens its home portion of its C-USA schedule with a matchup against UTSA on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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 with legendary coach Kay James as color analyst.
UTSA has been designated as $1 night. Fans can purchase tickets for $1 in person at the Pat Ferlisle Center, the Gameday Ticket Office, or 1-800-844-TICK. The first 100 fans receives Southern Miss lapel pins.
Southern Miss Preview The Lady Eagles (8-4) are coming off a 79-77 overtime victory at Louisiana Tech in which Tamara Jones recorded a double-double with a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds. Brooke Rhodes added 16 points and Alex Coyne chipped in 10 points to go with eight assists and five steals. The Lady Eagles shot 85.7 percent in the overtime period missing just one field and going 3-of-3 from behind the arc.
Jones currently leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 17.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Jerontay Clemons adds 11.1 points and Kierra Jordan is next at 8.9 points. Clemons and Jordan also contribute 5.8 rebounds per game each.
The Lady Eagles are averaging 71.7 points on 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 rebounds per game. Southern Miss is connecting on 62.1 percent from the line. Southern Miss is allowing 61.3 points on 37.4 percent shooting from the field while holding a +3.5 turnover margin against its opponents.
A Look at UTSA
UTSA comes into the game with a 6-8 overall and 1-1 in league play after a 53-45 over North Texas. Tesha Smith led the Roadrunners with a game-high 17 points while Mathilde Hergott chipped in 10 points. Mannasha Bell pulled down nine rebounds.
Kamra King leads the Roadrunners in scoring with 13.7 points per game while Ashley Spaletta adds 8.0 points per contest. Bell leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 boards per game and Akunna Elonu and Smith add 6.5 and 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively.
Head Coach Lubomyr Lichonczak is in his second season at UTSA.
UTSA is averaging 59.2 points on 36.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 rebounds per game. The Roadrunners are shooting 63.5 percent from the free throw line and have connected on 63-of-242 from behind the arc.
Series Record: Southern Miss vs. UTSA
This is only the second meeting between the two teams. Southern Miss won the only meeting last season in Hattiesburg.
Next Up
Following the UTSA game, Southern Miss remains at home when the Lady Eagles host UTEP on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. The Athletics Department will be celebrating 40 years of women's basketball as former athletes return to the campus for a luncheon, an Alumni game and a postgame social.
The first 100 fans receive a gold Southern Miss t-shirt.
Below is a schedule of events.
11:30 a.m. - Registration opens in the M-Club Room
Noon - 1 p.m. - Luncheon in the M-Club Room
-- Receive commemorative posters and t-shirts during this time
-- Speakers: Coach McNelis and Barbara Gandy
4 p.m. - Lady Eagles vs. UTEP
Halftime - Recognize all former players in attendance
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Former players and coaches social in Giannini Touchdown Terrace
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - 40th Anniversary Reception in Giannini Touchdown Terrace
-- Have trophies and other memorabilia present
