University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Hoops Host TCU in Second Round of WNIT
3/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss women's basketball team will host TCU in the second round of the WNIT on Sunday at 2 p.m. This is the first time the two teams have played since 2005 when TCU was a member of Conference USA.
The Lady Eagle contests can be heard on WHXB-FM 96.5 or at www.SouthernMiss.com with Josh West, voice of the Lady Eagles providing play-by-play analysis with legendary coach Kay James as color analyst.
Southern Miss Preview
The Lady Eagles (23-10) are coming off a 79-69 win over Texas Southern in the first round of the WNIT. Tamara Jones was the only Lady Eagle to score in double figures with a game-high 26 points to go with 11 rebounds. Seven other Lady Eagles scored six or more points as Jerontay Clemons added nine points.
Jones leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points while adding 7.0 rebounds per game. She ranks sixth in the Conference USA in scoring and eighth in field goal percentage including 11th in three-point field goal percentage. Clemons is next at 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Brooke Rhodes contributes 7.6 points and is second in the league in three-point field goal percentage and is fifth in 3-point field goals made in C-USA. Kierra Jordan contributes 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.
The Lady Eagles are averaging 68.1 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 37.8 rebounds per game. Southern Miss ranks second in field percentage and second in three-point field goal percentage. The Lady Eagles have connected on 166-of-472 from behind the arc. Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis is in her 11th season at the helm of the Lady Eagle program and her 24th season as a head coach. She recorded her 10th 20-win season overall and her fourth at Southern Miss.
Scouting TCU
TCU enters today's contest with a record of 18-13 following an 85-80 win over Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the WNIT. The players scored 20 or more points with Veja Hamilton and Jada Butts scoring 21 points each and Chelsea Prince contributing 20 points. Zahna Medley chipped in 12 points. Medley also had seven assists.
Medley leads a quartet of Horned Frogs in scoring at 15.3 points while Hamilton adds 11.5, Prince 10.6 and Natalie Ventress 10.4 points. Prince is the top rebounder at 5.9 boards per game.
TCU is averaging 69.5 points per game while allowing 69.3 points. The Horned Frogs are connecting on 41.1 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from three, while allowing 44.4 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. TCU is pulling down 33.9 rebounds per game and connecting on 76.0 percent from the free throw line.
Series History: Southern Miss vs. TCU
This is the fifth meeting between the two teams in a series that began in 2002. TCU, a former Conference USA member, leads the all-time series 4-0. It's been 10 years since the two teams have played.
Game Promotions
1st 200 students receive a free hamburger
1st 200 students receive a free Southern Miss Basketball t-shirt
Southern Miss students receive free admission
Adult tickets are $10- Youth tickets ( 2 years- 18 years old) are $5
Ways to purchase tickets- call 1-800-844-TICK until Friday at 5 p.m.- www.SouthernMissTickets.com and purchase them at the Reed Green Box Office the day of the game.
Fans can donate tickets to be given to youth and charity groups online
We have set a goal of 2,000 fans for this game as we had the 2nd highest attended WNIT game last night. We are using the #2kforSunday
