Friday, February 19
Reed Green Coliseum
6 P.M.
Southern Miss
vs
FIU
Southern Miss Closes Home Slate Against FIU
2/18/2021 6:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles wrap up the 2020-21 home schedule this weekend with a pair of contests against the FIU Panthers on Friday and Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum. Tip-off for Friday is set for 6 p.m. CT and is the annual 'Play4Kay' game, while Saturday's game will tip-off at 4 p.m. CT as Southern Miss will honor seniors Allie Kennedy and Jalise Smallwood.
"It's a big weekend for us," head coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "For our seniors, it's their last game in Reed Green. We really need to play hard for them. We have to put it all together to gain some momentum at home and carry that into the last weekend of the regular season and the conference tournament."
Both games will air on ESPN+ with Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd on the call. The voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, will have the game on the Southern Miss Radio Network, broadcast on 92.7 the Score and presented by Learfield IMG College.
As part of the 'Play4Kay' game and #McNelisStrong campaign, Coach McNelis has asked that fans join her as they are able in her partnership with Forrest General Hospital's Patient Navigation Program that provides patients with numerous resources they might need as they fight cancer. A link to donate can be found by clicking here.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
• Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley is in her first season at the helm of the Panthers.
• In Wiley's first season, the Panthers have their most wins since the 2013-14 season.
• Emerald Ekpiteta enters play this weekend as one of four players in C-USA averaging a double-double. • The Panthers have lived by the three ball this season with 8.6 made threes per game ranking second in C-USA and 29th nationally.
• The Panthers are coming off of a pair of losses to UTEP, but currently sit at third in the East division at an even 6-6 in C-USA play.
SCOUTING THE LADY EAGLES
• Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis enters her 30th year as a head coach in the 2020-21 season. She is currently two wins away from 500 career victories.
• Senior Jalise Smallwood has doubled her point total from a season ago, while improving her shooting percentage by 13%.
• Southern Miss is 6-0 this season when holding opponents under 70 points. Consequently, the Golden Eagles are 0-8 when opponents score 70 or more.
• Southern Miss is just 1-5 during the first game of the series in C-USA play the year and are shooting just 25% from deep in the first game. The Black and Gold are giving up 77.2 PPG in game one compared to 66.8 PPG in game two. The Lady Eagles heat up from beyond the arch in game two, shooting 34.6% and have compiled a 3-3 during the second game.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: 9-3
In Hattiesburg: 2-3
In Miami: 5-0
Neutral: 2-0
Last Meeting: USM, 58-53, 2/15/20
"It's a big weekend for us," head coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "For our seniors, it's their last game in Reed Green. We really need to play hard for them. We have to put it all together to gain some momentum at home and carry that into the last weekend of the regular season and the conference tournament."
Both games will air on ESPN+ with Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd on the call. The voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, will have the game on the Southern Miss Radio Network, broadcast on 92.7 the Score and presented by Learfield IMG College.
As part of the 'Play4Kay' game and #McNelisStrong campaign, Coach McNelis has asked that fans join her as they are able in her partnership with Forrest General Hospital's Patient Navigation Program that provides patients with numerous resources they might need as they fight cancer. A link to donate can be found by clicking here.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
• Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley is in her first season at the helm of the Panthers.
• In Wiley's first season, the Panthers have their most wins since the 2013-14 season.
• Emerald Ekpiteta enters play this weekend as one of four players in C-USA averaging a double-double. • The Panthers have lived by the three ball this season with 8.6 made threes per game ranking second in C-USA and 29th nationally.
• The Panthers are coming off of a pair of losses to UTEP, but currently sit at third in the East division at an even 6-6 in C-USA play.
SCOUTING THE LADY EAGLES
• Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis enters her 30th year as a head coach in the 2020-21 season. She is currently two wins away from 500 career victories.
• Senior Jalise Smallwood has doubled her point total from a season ago, while improving her shooting percentage by 13%.
• Southern Miss is 6-0 this season when holding opponents under 70 points. Consequently, the Golden Eagles are 0-8 when opponents score 70 or more.
• Southern Miss is just 1-5 during the first game of the series in C-USA play the year and are shooting just 25% from deep in the first game. The Black and Gold are giving up 77.2 PPG in game one compared to 66.8 PPG in game two. The Lady Eagles heat up from beyond the arch in game two, shooting 34.6% and have compiled a 3-3 during the second game.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: 9-3
In Hattiesburg: 2-3
In Miami: 5-0
Neutral: 2-0
Last Meeting: USM, 58-53, 2/15/20
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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