University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, February 22
Reed Green Coliseum
4 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Charlotte
Lady Eagles Start Last Four Against Charlotte
2/21/2020 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Lady Eagles look to continue their hot streak with a home matchup with Charlotte.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles of Southern Miss women's basketball hit the hardwood in Reed Green for the first time in 13 days to take on Charlotte for the first of four final Conference USA games.
Promotions
It is senior day for Shonte Hailes, Amber Landing, Respect Leaphart and Alarie Mayze. These four will be honored postgame for their achievements at half court with their families and the coaching staff. It's also a quadruple header for Southern Miss Athletics, and to help fans take advantage of all the excitement, the Weekend Warrior ticket package is now available for fans to buy one ticket that grants entry to men's basketball (12 p.m.), baseball (2 p.m.) and women's basketball, and also comes with a vintage Southern Miss t-shirt. The beach volleyball match starts at 10 a.m. and entry is free. To help the Lady Eagles 'Reach New Heights', tickets are also on sale that match Kelsey Jones' height. Standing at 6'3", tickets are available for $6.03.
The Matchup
The Lady Eagles (14-11, 6-8) are facing Charlotte (18-7, 9-5) for the second time this season, and for the start of the new final four Conference USA games format, implemented this season.
Southern Miss is now 19-11 against Charlotte, and is 9-4 when playing the 49ers in Reed Green. Southern Miss is coming off a win at LA Tech, where the Lady Eagles downed the Lady Techsters 63-61 in a down-to-the-wire matchup in Ruston. It was the first win in Ruston that the senior class has seen, and the first for the program since January of 2015. They were led by senior Respect Leaphart in both points and rebounds, and Daishai Almond in assists. The Lady Eagles are now on a three-game winning streak, all which occurred on the road. The 49ers come to Reed Green with a win under their belt as well, defeating the Old Dominion Monarchs, which are receiving votes in the AP Poll. They defeated the Monarchs in Charlotte, 63-59.Â
The last time the Lady Eagles saw Charlotte, they fell to the 49ers on Feb. 1, 63-59 in Halton Arena. The Lady Eagles are now led by Leaphart in both points (363) and rebounds (146), with Almond continuing to be the leader in assists with 105. Not much shuffling has happened on Charlotte's end, with Jade Phillips continuing in the lead for points (379) and rebounds (233), and Jada McMillian leading in assists with 87. Since the last time the two met, Charlotte has defeated UTSA, North Texas, Rice, and the recent win against Old Dominion. They lost to UTEP in El Paso in overtime just after playing Southern Miss.Â
About the Seniors
Shonte Hailes earned Preseason All-Conference Honors for the second-straight year this season, and hit her 1,000th career point early on in her senior campaign. The Quitman, Miss. native has missed the last five games due to injury. She is currently at No. 7 on the all-time career assists list at Southern Miss, having dished out 443 in her four years. After graduation, Hailes is uncertain of her plans, but Coach McNelis sees her having a future as a basketball coach.
Amber Landing has recently moved into the top-three on the all-time career blocks list for the Lady Eagles, sitting on her own at No. 3 with 116 to her name. Landing has updated many of her career highs this season, most notably her points (12), blocks (7), as well as field goals made (6) and attempted (11). The Sharon, Miss. center has led her team in rebounds three times this season. Landing has aspirations to join the medical field to do cardiac rehab.
Respect Leaphart is nearing 1,000 points at Southern Miss, currently with 363 in her senior campaign and 941 overall, meaning she just needs 59 more points. The Fort Myers, Fla. product has had four 20-point games this season, and has been the leading scorer in 12 games this season. She is the only player to have started in every game this year. She earned her new career-high of 26 points against South Alabama, and has played to her new career-high in minutes three times (38). Leaphart would like to enter the law enforcement field after graduation.Â
Alarie Mayze, who hails from Arlington, Texas, has made an impact in her final year, going from having just six made 3-pointers at Southern Miss to sinking 26 in her senior campaign alone. She posted a new career-high in points against UAB, and made a new career-high in made 3-pointers (3) and attempted (8) en route to tying her career high in points against Marshall. She has posted 660 points at Southern Miss in just three years, as well as 145 assists. She has scored in double-digits in 13 of the 25 games played this season. Mayze would like to become a broadcaster after she finishes her time at Southern Miss.
Up Next
To continue in the four final games added to C-USA women's schedules, the Lady Eagles will go on the road to UTEPÂ for a Saturday matchup in El Paso, Texas, with tip set for 2 p.m. CT.Â
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Promotions
It is senior day for Shonte Hailes, Amber Landing, Respect Leaphart and Alarie Mayze. These four will be honored postgame for their achievements at half court with their families and the coaching staff. It's also a quadruple header for Southern Miss Athletics, and to help fans take advantage of all the excitement, the Weekend Warrior ticket package is now available for fans to buy one ticket that grants entry to men's basketball (12 p.m.), baseball (2 p.m.) and women's basketball, and also comes with a vintage Southern Miss t-shirt. The beach volleyball match starts at 10 a.m. and entry is free. To help the Lady Eagles 'Reach New Heights', tickets are also on sale that match Kelsey Jones' height. Standing at 6'3", tickets are available for $6.03.
The Matchup
The Lady Eagles (14-11, 6-8) are facing Charlotte (18-7, 9-5) for the second time this season, and for the start of the new final four Conference USA games format, implemented this season.
Southern Miss is now 19-11 against Charlotte, and is 9-4 when playing the 49ers in Reed Green. Southern Miss is coming off a win at LA Tech, where the Lady Eagles downed the Lady Techsters 63-61 in a down-to-the-wire matchup in Ruston. It was the first win in Ruston that the senior class has seen, and the first for the program since January of 2015. They were led by senior Respect Leaphart in both points and rebounds, and Daishai Almond in assists. The Lady Eagles are now on a three-game winning streak, all which occurred on the road. The 49ers come to Reed Green with a win under their belt as well, defeating the Old Dominion Monarchs, which are receiving votes in the AP Poll. They defeated the Monarchs in Charlotte, 63-59.Â
The last time the Lady Eagles saw Charlotte, they fell to the 49ers on Feb. 1, 63-59 in Halton Arena. The Lady Eagles are now led by Leaphart in both points (363) and rebounds (146), with Almond continuing to be the leader in assists with 105. Not much shuffling has happened on Charlotte's end, with Jade Phillips continuing in the lead for points (379) and rebounds (233), and Jada McMillian leading in assists with 87. Since the last time the two met, Charlotte has defeated UTSA, North Texas, Rice, and the recent win against Old Dominion. They lost to UTEP in El Paso in overtime just after playing Southern Miss.Â
About the Seniors
Shonte Hailes earned Preseason All-Conference Honors for the second-straight year this season, and hit her 1,000th career point early on in her senior campaign. The Quitman, Miss. native has missed the last five games due to injury. She is currently at No. 7 on the all-time career assists list at Southern Miss, having dished out 443 in her four years. After graduation, Hailes is uncertain of her plans, but Coach McNelis sees her having a future as a basketball coach.
Amber Landing has recently moved into the top-three on the all-time career blocks list for the Lady Eagles, sitting on her own at No. 3 with 116 to her name. Landing has updated many of her career highs this season, most notably her points (12), blocks (7), as well as field goals made (6) and attempted (11). The Sharon, Miss. center has led her team in rebounds three times this season. Landing has aspirations to join the medical field to do cardiac rehab.
Respect Leaphart is nearing 1,000 points at Southern Miss, currently with 363 in her senior campaign and 941 overall, meaning she just needs 59 more points. The Fort Myers, Fla. product has had four 20-point games this season, and has been the leading scorer in 12 games this season. She is the only player to have started in every game this year. She earned her new career-high of 26 points against South Alabama, and has played to her new career-high in minutes three times (38). Leaphart would like to enter the law enforcement field after graduation.Â
Alarie Mayze, who hails from Arlington, Texas, has made an impact in her final year, going from having just six made 3-pointers at Southern Miss to sinking 26 in her senior campaign alone. She posted a new career-high in points against UAB, and made a new career-high in made 3-pointers (3) and attempted (8) en route to tying her career high in points against Marshall. She has posted 660 points at Southern Miss in just three years, as well as 145 assists. She has scored in double-digits in 13 of the 25 games played this season. Mayze would like to become a broadcaster after she finishes her time at Southern Miss.
Up Next
To continue in the four final games added to C-USA women's schedules, the Lady Eagles will go on the road to UTEPÂ for a Saturday matchup in El Paso, Texas, with tip set for 2 p.m. CT.Â
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Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
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