Jan. 14, 2006

NEW ORLEANS, La. - One of the oldest rivalries in Tulane women's basketball history will lock horns for a school-record 54th time on Sunday when the Green Wave travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on Conference USA foe Southern Miss at 2 p.m. in the Reed Green Coliseum.

Tulane and Southern Miss actually did not play in the first season of Green Wave women's hoops (1975-76) but have played at least twice a year since. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series, 29-24, but under head coach Lisa Stockton Tulane is 17-5 against Southern Miss since the 1994-95 season.

Last season, the two teams split the regular-season series with Southern Miss winning 80-73 on Feb 5 in Hattiesburg, and Tulane claiming a 79-49 win on Feb. 26 in New Orleans.

Tulane enters Sunday's C-USA matchup 6-6 on the season, 1-3 in C-USA and looking to snap a three-game losing streak, including a 60-52 loss at UCF on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

As a team, the Green Wave average 67.8 points per game while shooting at a .424 clip (291-for-686). Defensively, Tulane has allowed an average of 69.2 points an outing and limited opponents to a .410 mark, including a .313 showing from 3-point land. On the boards, Tulane averages 40.0 rebounds per game, and is out-rebounding its foes by an average of 4.9 caroms a night.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Sands leads the team with 14.2 points per game, while junior guard Jami Montagnino is close behind with an 11.9 average. Sophomore sharp-shooter Nikki Luckhurst is third on the club with 10.2 points per game, and has done most of her damage from beyond the 3-point arc with 26 treys.

Sands paces the squad in rebounds with a 7.8 average, while rookie post player Kendra Barnes is next with a 5.8 mark. Rookie point guard Ashley Langford paces the club with 6.63 assists per game, and sophomore post Dominique Philpots leads the team with 15 blocks.

Southern Miss, meanwhile, enters Sunday's ballgame 5-10 on the year and 2-2 in C-USA play after defeating UTEP 57-55 on Friday. As a team, the Golden Eagles average 64.6 points per game and connect at a .406 mark from the field on 335-of-825 shooting.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles are allowing opponents to score an average of 68.1 and connect at a .413 shooting percentage (365-for-884). Southern Miss is averaging 35.0 rebounds per game, while the Golden Eagles' foes have pulled down an average of 40.5 a night.

Kendra Reed leads Southern Miss in scoring with 15.2 points a game, and Ashley Boehnel is next with a 13.8 average. Amber Eugene paces the club in rebounding with 6.7 per night. Kristin Chaney paces the Golden Eagles with 73 assists while Liz Biland and Ashley Harrell share team-high block honors with 10 each.

Following the Southern Miss game, the Green Wave close out their three-game road swing with a 3 p.m. battle with non-league foe Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Jan. 21, in Hammond, La. Tulane's next home game is set for Sunday, Jan. 22, when the Green Wave take on C-USA foe Memphis at 2 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.

For ticket information, contact the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-247-1240. The Ticket Office is currently located in the lobby of Fogelman Arena, and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also purchase on-line at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.