Jan. 19, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team returns to the road, after one game at home, when the Lady Eagles travel to Houston, Sunday at 2 p.m. The Lady Eagles own a three-game losing streak. 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 (10-7, 1-3) lost for the third time, in as many games, when the Rice Owls defeated Southern Miss, 64-58. In that game, Stephanie Helgeson scored a season-high 20 points, while Pauline Love grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds. Andrea Barber chipped in 11 points to go with six assists.

Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.4 and 11.2, respectively, while three other Lady Eagles average double figures with Kendra Reed 10.8, Amber Eugene 10.4 and Helgeson 10.3 points. Barber leads the team in assists with 5.8 per game.

As a team, the Lady Eagles are averaging 73.2 points and 40.7 rebounds, while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 75.4 percent from the line. Southern Miss has connected on 91-of-254 threes for 35.8 percent.

Houston (9-9, 3-1) is coming off a 74-61 win at UCF, in which Twiggy McIntyre scored a game-high 22 points. Courtney Taylor added her double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cobilyn Hill had 16 points.

Coach Danny Hughes takes over on an interim basis for Coach Joe Curl, who is recuperating from a heart attack. The Cougars have won four of their last five games, including their last three. Twiggy McIntyre leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game, while Taylor leads the team in rebounding. The Cougars are averaging 68 points and 43.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 70.1 percent from the line. They have connected on 85-of-299 three-pointers

McIntyre leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points, while Taylor leads the team in rebounding at 8.1. Tye Jackson also averages 11.9 points.

As a team, the Cougars are averaging 68.0 points and 43.6 rebounds, while shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 70.1 percent from the line.

Houston leads the series with Southern Miss, 9-8. Houston has won four of the last six meetings. The win last season snapped a three-game losing streak to the Cougars.

Following the Houston game, Southern Miss returns home to start a five-game home stand, beginning with UCF on Jan. 25.