Feb. 21, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team will play against its first nationally ranked opponent since the 2004-05, when the Lady Eagles host No. 19 UTEP Friday at 7 p.m. 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.

Friday night's game will be designated as "Girl's Night Out.¨ All ladies in attendance will have a chance to win special prizes just for them. Sunday's contest has been tabbed as "Take a Kid to the Game Day.¨ With the purchase an adult ticket, receive a free youth ticket. Mascot Challenge at halftime featuring Gumbo and Mojo from the New Orleans Saints and Voodoo.

Southern Miss (15-10, 6-6) is coming off a 77-67 win at Marshall in which junior Kendra Reed scored a game-high 23 points, including 18 in the first half and Pauline Love and Amber Eugene had 14 points apiece and Andrea Barber added 10.

Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.6 and 10.8, respectively, while Stephanie Helgeson is next at 11.5, followed by Reed at 11.3. Barber leads the team in assists with 6.5 per game. She currently leads the league in assists.

As a team, the Lady Eagles are averaging 73.2 points and 39.6 rebounds, while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 76.5 percent from the line. Southern Miss has connected on 136-of-368 threes for 37.0 percent.

No. 19 UTEP (21-2, 12-0) comes into the game riding a 17-game winning streak. The Miners are coming off a 65-53 win over Rice, in which Natasha Lacy, Jareica Hughes and Izabela Piekarska combined for 59 points for then No. 24 UTEP. The trio also accounted for 24 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals and five blocks.

Four players average in double figures led by Jareica Hughes at 12.8, Izabela Piekarska 12.5, Natasha Lacy 12.0 and Kasia Krezel 10.8, while Timika Williams leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 per game.

The Miners own a 12-0 record in C-USA play. Head Coach Keitha Adams is in her seventh season at the helm of the Miner program.

As a team, the Miners are averaging 70.2 points and 39.8 rebounds, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 67.0 percent from the line.

This is the only the fourth meeting between the two teams. Southern Miss leads the series 2-1.

Following the UTEP game, Southern Miss closes out its home portion of its schedule against Tulane, honoring Liz Biland in a post-game ceremony.