Lady Eagles Take on FAU, First Game for Seymour's Reading Program

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles return to the court for a late afternoon tussle with Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 1. Tip off is set for 4pm in Reed Green Coliseum against the Owls. It will also be the first game for Seymour's Reading Program.

Seymour's Winter Reading Program
Students in preschool through fifth grade were given the opportunity to read books to receive rewards from Southern Miss Athletics. Kids from preschool to third grade age were challenged to read five books or more to receive a voucher to admit the student and two other guests to a women's basketball game on Feb. 2 or the 23rd. Fourth and fifth grade students were challenged to read three books to receive the same voucher to the games. The top three reading schools will be recognized at halftime of the Feb. 23 game, determined by the percentage of students who achieved the reading goals. Classrooms from any school that had 100 percent of their school complete the reading goal earn complimentary tickets to a men's game and a signed women's basketball poster. Students were to try and meet this reading goal through Jan. 4. Overall, there were 29,650 kids and 1,423 classrooms who participated in Seymour's Reading Program. Saturday's game against FIU is the first game where students and their families can redeem their free tickets to a women's basketball game.

The Matchup
Southern Miss (12-10, 4-5) and Florida Atlantic (4-17, 1-7) have faced one another a total of five times. The Lady Eagles lead the series 4-1, with a 1-0 record at home and 3-1 when playing the Owls in The Burrow. Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis has coached the Lady Eagles in each bout of this matchup, but second-year skipper Jim Jabir of FAU won in his first appearance against USM last season; a 89-78 win in the Burrow.

Southern Miss comes off a swift defeat of FAU's counterpart FIU on Thursday night in Reed Green, defeating the Panthers 71-57. Florida Atlantic comes to the floor after a loss against LA Tech, 86-55. The four wins for FAU came against Richmond, Lafayette College, Siena, and FIU. Southern Miss was led by Shonte Hailes in the game against FIU, finishing with 27 points and five assists. Megan Brown had her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Next Up
The Lady Eagles go on the road to take on LA Tech on Feb. 9 at the Thomas Assembly Center at 1pm in Ruston, La.

Lady Eagles Take on FAU, First Game for Seymour's Reading Program

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Players Mentioned

Megan Brown

Shonte Hailes