Dec. 29, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team returns to action after an 11-day holiday break, plays the Houston Jaguars in an exhibition game Sunday. The game will be broadcasted over WXHB-FM 96.5 with the "Voice of the Lady Eagles" Jason Baker providing play-by-play action with former coach Kay James as the color analyst.

Southern Miss (9-4) is coming off a 79-55 win over Illinois-Chicago in the Caribbean Classic in which all nine players scored at least two points in the game. Senior Liz Biland led a group of four players in double figures with a game-high 16 points, followed by Amber Eugene and Erica Williams with 14 points apiece and Kendra Reed chipped in 11.

Pauline Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 and 10.6, respectively, while Eugene is averaging 11.1 points and Biland 10.2. Andrea Barber leads the team in assists with 5.1 per game.

As a team, the Lady Eagles are averaging 75.5 points and 41.6 rebounds, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 74.8 percent from the line. Southern Miss has connected on 75-of-206 threes for 36.4 percent.

The Houston Jaguars were founded in 1997, as a travel team to help women basketball players continue their post collegiate career and aspire to take their playing skills to the next level of professional achievement. The Jaguars compete against some of the top Division I Colleges and Universities each year.

Head Coach Louis Ray III is in his 11th season with the organization. Barber Turner has led the team in scoring in the last two games, including a 17-point performance against Texas.

Southern Miss won last year's contest, 71-63, behind Reed's game-high 25 points.

Following the exhibition game, Southern Miss opens Conference USA play on the road at UCF, Jan. 5.