STATESBORO, GA – The Georgia Southern women’s basketball team rekindles a rivalry that has been absent for nearly 25 years as the Lady Eagles travel to No. 11 Duke Thursday, November 19. With two meetings in the record books, the programs have not met since 1985. The first meeting came three seasons prior to that in 1982. Tip inside Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 7 p.m. and Ryan Chambers of the Georgia Southern Radio Network will call the game on 102.9 WPMX-FM. The contest can be heard globally on www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com
The Lady Eagles (1-0) opened the 2009-2010 campaign Friday night of Homecoming (November 13) with a 96-44 rout over Brewton-Parker. J'Lisia Ogburn (Dublin, Ga.) jumpstarted her senior year with her fourth career double-double posting a career- and game-high 18 points alongside 10 rebounds. Returning to the floor for the first time since last December, senior Carolyn Whitney (Duluth, Ga.) collected 14 points with two assists in the start. And freshman Kayla Dayton (Monroe, N.C.) opened her collegiate career as an Eagle contributing 12 points and tied for a game-high five assists in the win.
Georgia Southern shot 49.4 percent from the floor, with 51.4 percent in the second half, and won the edge on glass 55-42. The Lady Eagles recorded 55 rebounds and 20 steals in the win. The Lady Eagles’ defense held Brewton-Parker to a 23.7 percent shooting for the game with a mere 18.8 percent in the second half.
No. 11 Duke (1-1) opens its home schedule Thursday night playing host to Georgia Southern. The Blue Devils returned two starters from a 2008-09 squad that went 27-6 overall. With nine returned lettermen, Duke also brought back 58.5 percent of its shooting and 63.3 percent of its rebounding from last season.
The Blue Devils opened the season with two games on the road, picking up a win at Houston Baptist and dropping a 95-77 decision at Texas A&M most recently. Jasmine Thomas posted a career-high 26 points in the loss as Allison Vernerey added 11 points.
The Series
Georgia Southern and Duke will meet for the third time in program history Thursday night. The first meeting occurred back in 1982 at the Lady Hatter Classic. The Lady Eagles picked up the win, 64-58. The two schools then met again three seasons later in the South Florida Christmas Tournament in 1985. The Blue Devils defeated the Lady Eagles, 71-65. This will be the first meeting between head coaches Rusty Cram and Joanne P. McCallie.
|
