Lady Eagles Host Furman on ESPN3 Monday Night
12/4/2011 10:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Lady Eagles look to rebound from a 19-point loss to Appalachian State when they host the Furman Paladins on ESPN3 Monday Night. Tip-off for the Southern Conference home opener is set for 7 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse. Fans who bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots will receive free admission to the contest.
"If you don't take care of your home court and then don't win your share of them on the road you are not going to figure into the mix in the conference," said Head Coach Rusty Cram. "You know you have to win on the road some since the tournament is on the road, but you also have to take care of business at home."
Georgia Southern (2-5, 0-1) opened SoCon play on Thursday in Boone, N.C., suffering a 64-45 setback to the Mountaineers. The Lady Eagles did get to the free throw line 21 times, something they will need to do against Furman (4-2, 1-0), whose trips to the charity stripe proved the difference last season.
The Paladins snapped a six-game GSU win streak in the all-time series, winning 58-50 in Greenville and 54-47 in Statesboro last season. In both games the two squads were nearly even in made field goals and it was Furman's ability to get to the free throw line that proved the difference.
The Paladins went to the line 33 times in the January contest at Timmons Arena and 16 times at Hanner Fieldhouse, something that is in line with what Cram sees as their focus. "That is their goal, to get to the rim and make people foul them and get to the free throw line."
Meredyth Frye (Fredricksburg, Va.) continues to show her versatility, leading the team in both points and rebounds per game. She is the only Lady Eagle averaging double figures after seven games this season. Frye is also a major reason why GSU has improved their rebounding total by nearly two a game over last season.
"We have to be a rebounding team if we are going to compete. Being able to control the boards to some large extent is an area we can get very good at," said Cram.
Furman is off to a strong start to the 2011-12 season after defeating the College of Charleston on Wednesday. The Paladins' two losses have come by just three combined points and they could easily be undefeated. Furman is in the midst of a three-game road swing after a home loss, 68-67, to Clemson on November 28th.
Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.
