Vying for the top spot in Conference USA polls, the Mustangs will take on the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss tonight in Hattiesburg, Miss. Looking to tie their win streak from last season of seven games, the Mustangs have yet to lose a conference game on the road.
“This road trip is probably, by far, the biggest road trip of the conference,” said head coach Rhonda Rompola. “We’re going to get tested to see exactly where we’re at. This is a team that’s tied in first for a reason.”
With identical 7-1 and 14-7 records, the Mustangs and Golden Eagles have been locked in a battle for first place for the past three weeks. SMU currently has the advantage over the Golden Eagles with a 4-1 record over USM. Tonight’s game will determine who will break into the top spot in conference polls.
“Southern Miss is going to remember we beat them last year,” said Rompola. “Competitors remember that.”
Being played in front of a national audience on CBS College Sports, the game will be the sixth meeting between the conference rivals. Last year’s nationally televised game featured the Mustangs defeating the Golden Eagles 85-72, giving Rompola her 300th career victory. The milestone put Rompola in sole possession of the only coach in SMU history to crack 300 wins.
Posting a perfect season on the road, Rompola says “the road hasn’t effected this team like it would other teams. When we go on the road it’s like another game to them.
Regardless of where we play, this team is going to play however they would play that night.”
Junior guard Jillian Samuels also set a career-high five three-pointers in last year’s televised game against USM. Now with 163 three’s on the season, Samuels has the second highest total in Mustang history.
Headlining for the Mustangs is junior guard Brittany Gilliam, with 299 points on the season, averaging 14.2 points per game, and 7.5 rebounds. Freshman Christine Elliott continues to prove herself as a vital aspect to the Mustangs’ high rankings, averaging 9.2 points per game and 6.1 rebounds. Elliott also holds the team high in blocks, with 12 on the season.
Leading USM is Pauline Love, with 16.4 ppg and 10.9 rebounds, followed by Stephanie Helgeson with 10.4 ppg. As a whole, Southern Miss averaged 69.3 ppg and 40.7 rebounds.
Already surpassing the Mustangs in consecutive wins, USM will look for their eighth straight win tonight, having only lost to UCF in the first game of conference play.
“We haven’t had any pretty wins, nor will we,” explained Rompola. “We have to be energized and ready for the fight because Southern Miss is going to come out fighting. If you’re not ready to play then you don’t deserve to be fighting for first place.”
