CLINTON, Miss. --- After opening the season with six straight home games, the Mississippi College women's basketball team will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Jackson, Tenn. to face Union University on Thursday night. Tip-off at Fred DeLay Gymnaisum is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, despite being less than 300 miles apart. The Lady Choctaws are in their second year of transition to Division II and the Gulf South Conference, while Union is a full-fledged member for the first time this season.
Head coach
Paul Allen Duke earned his 335th victory on November 22nd against Selma. He is the winningest coach in school history and has the highest winning percentage (.685).
The next victory for the Lady Choctaws will be the 700th in school history, dating back to the 1970 season. Coach Duke is also slated to coach his 500th career game this season. Currently, the game at West Alabama on January 24th is the projected date for the milestone.
The Lady Choctaws are coming off their first GSC weekend in 19 years, but MC saw their four-game season-opening win streak come to an end with losses to West Alabama (50-40) and West Georgia (63-43). Despite MC's offensive struggles, they shot 53% (10-of-19) from the field in the second half of their last contest, a loss to UWG.
Junior
Kristen Sampson (11.8 ppg) is the team's leading scorer, shooting 48% from the field and 41% from the 3-point line. Junior
Ashley Minor (10.2 ppg) came off the bench to lead MC with nine points against West Georgia on Saturday. Senior
AnnMarie Harris (9.5 ppg) is the team-leader with 9.3 rebounds per game.
The Bulldogs are led by head coach Mark Campbell, who is in his 16th season at the helm, leading Union to four NAIA national championships (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) and the 2014 NCCAA national title. Union opened the season with five straight wins before dropping their last game to Lee, 74-66.
Amy Philamlee (21.8 ppg) leads the Gulf South Conference in scoring and assists (9.3) per game, including a school-record 15 helpers in Union's 100-74 win over Shorter last Thursday. DeAnna Thompson (18.2 ppg) is the team-leader with 12.3 rebounds per game, while Kelsey Risner is also averaging a double-double with 16.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest. The Bulldogs have three players averaging over 33 minutes played per game.
