Files associated with this release:
wbb usm-houston box score

Lady Eagles’ Comeback Bid Falls Short, 64-47

Liz Biland recorded her first-career double-double, Sunday against Houston, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.— Southern Miss’ second-half comeback bid against Houston fell short Sunday in Reed Green Coliseum, as the Lady Eagles fell 64-47 to the Lady Cougars.

With the loss, Southern Miss falls to 5-9 overall, 0-2 in Conference USA. Houston improves to 11-3, 2-0.

The Lady Eagles fell behind early, and were down by 21, 36-15 at halftime to the Lady Cougars, despite 12 first-half points from Southern Miss freshman Liz Biland.

“I was proud of the way our team fought,” Southern Miss Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. “In the first few minutes of the game, we played like we were scared, rather than playing with confidence. We were out of sync for some reason and didn’t get into the offensive flow. Liz Biland came out and played with a tremendous amount of intensity and fire. She kept us going in the first half.

“We won the second half and played a lot more poised,” Lee-McNelis said. “We had no fear in our eyes in the second half, and we were ready to take it to them.”

In the second half, the Lady Eagles used a 22-13 run to make the score 49-37 at the 7:53 mark. Southern Miss would be down by 13 on two other occasions in the second half, but could not get closer.

Houston out-shot Southern Miss 43.9 percent to 36 percent, and held a 42 to 30 edge in rebounds.

Biland finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, for her first career double-double. It was also the first double-double by any Lady Eagle basketball player this season.

Dianca Jones added 13 points for the Lady Eagles, while Kim Rigg had eight rebounds.

Sancho Lyttle had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Houston, while Kiemona Harris and Jasmin Moore each finished with 11 points.

Southern Miss returns to action Friday, Jan. 14 at Saint Louis. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.