HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of New Orleans women's basketball team will play the first of two games in Mississippi over a three-day period on Sunday as they travel to Southern Mississippi for a 2 p.m. contest.
A native of Mississippi, UNO (0-3) head coach Amy Champion has not played in her home state since Dec. 21, 2006 against Mississippi State on a neutral floor in Jackson, Miss. Sunday's trip is the first of three on the year for the Lady Privateers who will face Mississippi College on Tuesday before venturing to Belhaven on Jan. 4.
UNO enters Sunday coming off their best 20 minutes of offense on the season.
After struggling to a 2 of 19 performance from the field and just 15 points in the first half on Friday night against Southeastern Louisiana, the Lady Privateers rallied behind sophomore guard
Mirjam Sipos to score 32 points in the second half.
Sipos scored 13 of her career-high 17 points in the last 20 minutes, connecting on 5 of 10 shots from the field and helping UNO shoot 37.1 percent for the half.
USM is 1-1 on the season after falling to South Alabama 95-61 earlier this week after a season-opening win over McNeese State.
Four players average in double-figures for the Golden Eagles, led by Jamierra Faulkner's 16.5 points per game. Tanesha Washington adds 14 while Raqchel Vigers and Tandrea High score 13.5 and 10 points per game, respectively.
USM is shooting 40.3 percent from the field while allowing oppenents a 42.2 percent performance from the field and a 42.9 effort from long range. USA shot 11 of 20 from beyond the arc against the Golden Eagles in the team last game.
Live stats and audio of Sunday's game will be available on the SouthernMiss.com web site.
