Women?s Basketball Returns Home to Host Appalachian State
12/15/2007 5:09:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern women's basketball team returns to action to host Appalachian State, Sunday, in the first of a two-game homestand. The Southern Conference battle is slated for 3 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse.
After a week-long break at the conclusion of the semester, the Lady Eagles return to competition to clash with the Mountaineers. Both teams are seeking their first conference victory early in the league slate. Georgia Southern (3-6, 0-1) looks to bounce back after a 78-50 loss to Georgia Tech in Athens (Dec. 9). The Mountaineers (1-6, 0-1) also look to pick up a victory after recently falling 81-49 at College of Charleston (Dec. 14).
Since 1990, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have met 38 times. GSU claims a 26-12 all-time series advantage over the Mountaineers, picking up its most recent win at Boone, N.C. (Feb. 14) by a 68-61 margin. The win snapped a three-game, Appalachian State win-streak over the Lady Eagles, dating back to January of 2006. Included in that streak were two ASU wins in Hanner Fieldhouse. Georgia Southern's last victory at home over ASU occurred in 2005 in a 56-52 decision. GSU leads the all-time series in Statesboro 9-7 over the Mountaineers.
Georgia Southern has three Lady Eagles tallying double-figures in the points category. Seniors Shawnda Atwood (Pensacola, Fla.) and Tiffany Brown (Waxhaw, N.C.) average 11.6 and 12.3 points respectively, and are followed by junior guard Ashley Melson (Newnan, Ga.) with 10.8 points per contest. Atwood also pulls down a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game, while senior forward Chequilla Jessie (Sanford, Fla.) grabs 4.7 boards per outing.
Appalachian State is paced by GiGi Thomas with 11.0 points and is closely followed by teammate Whitney Tossie with 10.6 points per game. Whitney Randolph leads the team in the rebounds category, pulling down 5.1 boards per contest.
Head coach Rusty Cram enters the contest with a 170-157 career and school record in his 12th year at the helm. Cram holds a 20-6 record against the Mountaineers.
Sixth-year head coach Adrienne Shuler tallies a 56-94 all-time track record and has a 3-9 record versus the Lady Eagles.
The game will be called by Georgia Southern Radio Network's Ryan Chambers on Eagle 102.9 FM, WPMX in Statesboro, and can also be watched on the World Wide Web at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
The first 100 fans to Hanner will receive a free Subway sandwich courtesy of Subway.
