Lady Eagles Travel to Furman in a Clash of Two Six-Game Winning Streaks
1/21/2011 4:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Women's Basketball team travels to Greenville, S.C., in a clash of two six-game winning streaks. The Lady Eagles have won the last six meetings between the two schools, but the Paladins are 6-0 at home this season and are coming off an 80-44 win over Wofford Wednesday.
Georgia Southern had won three straight games before traveling to Charleston but could not get a basket to fall in the final four seconds, dropping a 40-39 decision to the College of Charleston their last time out. The Lady Eagles have been stellar at home and boast a 7-1 record in Hanner Fieldhouse, with six of those wins coming in a row; however, it has been a different story on the road. Georgia Southern is 1-8 away from Statesboro and has yet to win a Southern Conference game on the road in five attempts this season.
The Lady Eagles are led by Jamie Navarro's (Naples, Fla.) 12.3 points per game. Navarro also averages 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. Meredyth Frye (Fredericksburg, Va.) is second on the team with 11 points per contest. She pulled down her 100th rebound of the season at Charleston and averages 5.3 boards a game. Forward Krista Tate (Atlanta, Ga.) has recorded nearly as many assists as Navarro, averaging 2.7 per game. Tate is fourth on the team with 9.4 points per game and leads this year's squad in rebounding with 6.3 a game.
Furman is 7-10 and 3-5 in the SoCon after defeating Wofford 80-44 at home Wednesday, January 19th. With the win, the Paladins extended their home winning streak to six games and their home SoCon winning streak to three games.
Three players are averaging double figures in scoring for Furman. The Paladins are led by Kelly O'Connor's 12.7 points per game. O'Connor is the Paladins' primary deep threat and has taken over half of her 209 field goal attempts from behind the arc. Kaitlin Murphy is second on the squad with 12.5 points per game and leads the team in free throw attempts and percentage. Kendra Berry is the Paladins' top rebounder with 6.9 a game. She also averages 10.5 points per contest and is shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor.
Georgia Southern holds a 28-17 all-time record against Furman. The Lady Eagles won the first meeting in 1986 and have won the last six contests between the two squads. Georgia Southern won both meetings last year but had to go to overtime in the first game. The Lady Eagles defeated the Paladins 54-50 in Hanner Fieldhouse behind 16 points from J'Lisia Ogburn. Georgia Southern jumped out to a big 35-18 halftime lead in the second contest and held on to win 56-46 in Greenville, S.C., last season.
Wednesday's game can be heard on 102.9 FM and online at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision beginning 30 minutes prior to tipoff. Ryan Chambers of the Georgia Southern Radio Network will have the call courtside in Greenville, S.C. Fans may follow Georgia Southern Women's Basketball by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/ladyeagles or check in at twitter.com/GSAthletics or facebook.com/GSAthletics for short updates.
