University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
King and Nelson, Jr. Rewarded with Weekly SAAC Honor
12/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Women's basketball guard/forward Jayla King and football defensive back Picasso Nelson, Jr. were voted Southern Miss SAAC Players of the Week by their peers for their recent performances.
King, a native of Pensacola, Fla., played an integral part in helping Southern Miss to the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. She averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the two games. She recorded her second double-double of the season in Saturday's finale (10 points, 11 rebounds), and it marked her third double-digit rebound game of the last four contests (seventh of career).
King and the Lady Eagles (6-1) will be on the road till Jan. 12, but their next game will be a short drive away to South Alabama for a Sunday 2 p.m. tip.
Nelson tallied a career-best nine tackles (six solos) to go along with a pair of interceptions for the Golden Eagles. It marked his first two interceptions of the year as well as his first career two interception game. Both of his interceptions came in the fourth quarter as Southern Miss fought back a late charge from the Bulldogs. Nelson also helped limit Louisiana Tech to just eight yards rushing and 246 yards passing â€" which was averaging 357.3 passing yards heading into the weekend. Nelson, a product of Oak Grove High School, was the second Golden Eagle to register two interceptions in a game this season.
He and the rest of his team will await their bowl destination fate over the weekend.
