Jan. 19, 2006

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - - The Southern Miss women's basketball team plays its third home game of four, hosting East Carolina in Conference USA action on Friday.

Fans in attendance will receive Player Trading Cards of Shannon Stueber and Rachael Manuel as part of a promotion.

The game can be heard on WXHB-FM 96.5 with Jason Baker as the "Voice of the Lady Eagles" with legendary coach Kay James as color analyst. Broadcast begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

Southern Miss is 6-10 and 3-2 in league play, following a 75-60 win over Tulane on Sunday. In that game, Amber Eugene scored a game-high 20 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds, followed by Kendra Reed with 13 points, Liz Biland had 12 points and Ashley Boehnel chipped in 10 points. Biland also hauled in eight rebounds.

Reed continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points followed by Boehnel, who is averaging 13.6 points and Ashley Harrell at 12.1 points. Eugene leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 rebounds per game. Southern Miss is averaging 65.2 points and 34.8 rebounds as a team, while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 75.4 from the line.

East Carolina, under the direction of Sharon Baldwin-Tener, enters the game with a 10-5 record and 2-2, following a 54-45 loss to Houston on Jan. 13. In that game, Cherie Mills posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Jasmine Young scored 12 points. LaToya Horton was one of three players with double-digit rebounds with 14.

Mills leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 17.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Jasmine Young is averaging 11.0 points and leads the team in assists (71) and steals (50).

This is fifth meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to the 2000-01 season when East Carolina became a member of Conference USA.

Following the East Carolina game, Southern Miss concludes its four-game home stand against Marshall on Jan. 22.