University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Basketball Set to Face UTEP
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Lady Eagle basketball team remains at home to host UTEP in Conference USA action Saturday 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 will receive a gold t-shirt. The schedule of events includes:
11:30 a.m. - Registration opens in the M-Club Room
Noon - 1 p.m. - Luncheon in the M-Club Room
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. - Shoot Around and Legends Game in Reed Green Coliseum
2:30 - 3 p.m. - Tour of Reed Green Coliseum
3 p.m. - Poster making station for former players
4 p.m. - Lady Eagles vs. UTEP
Halftime - Recognize all former players in attendance
6:30 - 8 p.m. - 40th Anniversary Reception in Giannini Touchdown Terrace
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.
SOUTHERN MISS PREVIEW
The Lady Eagles (9-4) are coming off a 69-60 overtime win against on Thursday in which Tamara Jones and Brooke Rhodes combined for 34 points, scoring 17 points each. Brittanny Dinkins added 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and six steals. Alex Coyne dished out five assists. Jones and Rhodes also had five rebounds each. The Lady Eagles connected on 3-of4 from the field including a pair of three-pointers in the overtime period.
Jones currently leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Jerontay Clemons adds 10.5 points and Rhodes is next at 8.9 points. Clemons and Kierra Jordan also contribute 5.5 and 5.6 rebounds per game each.
The Lady Eagles are averaging 71.5 points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field and 37.4 rebounds per game. Southern Miss is connecting on 62.1 percent from the line. Southern Miss is allowing 61.2 points on 37.3 percent shooting from the field while holding a +3.5 turnover margin against its opponents.
A LOOK AT UTEP
UTEP comes into the game with a 7-5 overall record and 2-1 in league play after a 90-72 loss at Louisiana Tech on Thursday night. Sparkle Taylor led four Miners in double figure scoring with 15 points followed by Cameasha Turner with 14, Lawna Kennedy and Lulu McKinney added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Turner also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
Turner leads the Miners in scoring with 13.1 points per game while Taylor adds 10.6 points per contest. Turner leads the team in rebounding with 5.7 boards per game.
Head Coach Keitha Adams is in her 14th season at UTEP.
UTEP is averaging 67.9 points on 40.1 percent shooting from the field and 39.6 rebounds per game. The Miners are shooting 64.5 percent from the free throw line and have connected on 65-of-207 from behind the arc.
SERIES HISTORY: SOUTHERN MISS VS. UTEP
This is the 14th meeting between the two teams. UTEP leads the overall series 9-4 that began in 1993. Southern Miss won the first two meetings between the teams. UTEP has won five of the last six meetings. Southern Miss snapped a five game losing streak to the Miners.
NEXT UP
Following the UTEP game, Southern Miss hits the road for a pair of games at Middle Tennessee and UAB on Jan. 15 and 17, respectively.
