Dec. 17, 2007

CANCUN, Mexico - - The Southern Miss women's basketball team plays in its second tournament of the season, travels to Cancun, Mexico to play Miami and Illinois-Chicago, Dec. 18 and 19 at 12 p.m., each day, respectively. Both games 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 (8-3) is coming off a 78-50 win Birmingham-Southern, in which Pauline Love recorded her ninth double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Amber Eugene scored 11 points and Stephanie Helgeson just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Love continues to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.4 and 11.2, respectively, Eugene is averaging 11.3 points, while Helgeson is adding 10.8 points per game.

As a team, the Lady Eagles are averaging 77.0 points and 42.5 rebounds, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 73.2 percent from the line. Southern Miss has connected on 57-of-157 threes for 36.3 percent.

Miami is 4-6, following a 65-42 loss to Ole Miss, in which Maurita Reid scored 17 points to go with eight steals. Albrey Grimsley chipped in 13 points. Hurricane coach Katie Meier is in her third season at the helm of the Hurricane program. Meier returns eight letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 11-19. Maurita Reid leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.2 points and 6.1 rebounds. As a team, Miami is averaging 60.3 points and 39.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.0 percent from the field and 64.0 percent from the line.

Illinois-Chicago is 3-5, following a 51-39 loss to Western Michigan. In that game, Jessica Miller led the way with nine points. Flames coach Lisa Ryckbosch is in her sixth season in charge of the Flames program. Ryckbosch returns six letterwinners from last year's team that finished 19-13. Jessica Miller leads the team in scoring at 13.5 and Briana Hinkle is second at 11.8 points. Nikki Grobbecker leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.6 rebounds. As a team, UIC is averaging 53.6 points and 38.2 rebounds while shooting 34.1 percent from the field and 55.7 percent from the line. The defense is holding its opponents to 36.3 percent shooting and forcing 20.3 turnovers per game.

This is the second meeting between Southern Miss and Miami. The last time these two teams played, not one player on the current rosters were born. Lady Eagle head coach Joye Lee-McNelis was a freshman on the Southern Miss team that defeated Miami, 80-75. Southern Miss and UIC have never played before.

Following the Caribbean Classic, Southern Miss takes a break for the Christmas Holidays, returning to action on Dec. 30 with an exhibition game against the Houston Jaguars.