EUNICE, La. – For just the second time this season, the LSU Eunice basketball hits the road for a trip to West Memphis, Ar. To face Arkansas State-Mid-South on Thursday.  Tip-off is slated for 6:00PM.
 
This is a return trip for the Bengals after taking down the Greyhounds, 96-86, back on November 9.  LSUE used a 14-2 run in the first quarter that gave the Bengals all the breathing room they'd need.  Rylie James (Basile HS) paced LSU Eunice with 24 points on the evening, 17 points coming in the first half.
 
LSUE (9-2) rides a six-game win streak into Thursday's showdown with the Greyhounds.  The win streak was during a season's best six-game home stand where all games were won by an average of 20.5 points per game.
 
The Bengals are fresh off maybe the most impressive offensive showing under Amanda Clemons.  LSUE took down Patrick Henry 103-65 on December 2.  The 103 points were the most for the Bengals since 2010 and the 38-point margin of victory was the highest since 2014.
 
Arkansas State-Mid-South (6-4) has won three of its five meetings since taking on the Bengals last November.  Sophomore Sable Greer leads the Greyhounds with 19.3 points per game.  That is ranked 22^nd in the NJCAA's Division II.  Greer scored 22 points in the first meeting this year with LSU Eunice.

The Bengals are back home for a quick date with Louisiana College.  The home-and-home starts December 20 with a home date set for 6:00PM.  LSUE makes a return visit to Pineville on December 29 with a 3:00PM start time.   Fans can also find the latest Bengals information on social media via Twitter (@LSUEBengalsWBB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBasketball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals).   
 
 

GAME 12: LSU Eunice (9-2) vs. Arkansas State-Mid-South (6-4)
Date/Time: December 14, 2017 | 6:00PM
Site: West Memphis, Ar.
Arena: Glen F. Fenter Athletic Complex
 
Radio: None
TV/Internet: None
 
Social Media: @LSUBengalsWBB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceBasketball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
 
SERIES VS. ARKANSAS STATE-MID-SOUTH
All-Time Record: LSUE Leads 1-0
In Eunice, La. – LSUE Leads 1-0
Last Meeting – LSUE, W 96-86 (Nov. 9, 2017)

THE COACHES

LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Amanda Clemons (Mississippi College)
Career Record: 35-58  (5^th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
 
ARKANSAS STATE-MID-SOUTH
Interim Head Coach: Dwayne McCray (Central Arkansas)
Career Record: 6-4 (1st Season), Record at Arkansas State-Mid-South: Same

STORY LINES

• LSU Eunice takes a six game win streak into Thursday's game.  It's the longest win streak for the Bengals under Amanda Clemons
• Rylie James recently surpassed Casey Broussard for 4^th all-time in scoring in program history.  James' 23 points in the Bengals' win over Patrick Henry on Dec. 2 puts her 97 points off of Kayla Armstrong.
• The Bengals are dominating on the glass this season.  LSUE ranks 2nd nationally in offensive rebounds per game, grabbing 24.3 a night.  The Bengals are also tabbed 4th in total rebounds per game, snagging 52.3 per game.
• LSUE is also turning up the heat on the defensive end.  The Bengals average 15.8 steals per night, which ranks 13th in the NJCAA.

 
RYLIE WATCH: Sophomore Rylie James will have a few LSU Eunice records in the crosshairs for the 2017-2018 season.  James scored 545 points in her freshman campaign and is now 4th All-Time with 728 points.  She eclipsed Amanda Romero and Candace Lacombe for 5th with 16 points in a Nov. 14 loss at San Jacinto-North.  James passed Casey Broussard with 27 points in a Nov. 24 win over Southwestern Christian.

RYLIE WATCH, PART 2: The Basile native will also have the free throw record in sight this season.  James sunk 121 from the charity stripe last year, the 5^th most in program history.  James is only 35 free throws away from tying record holder Jennifer Hicks (188).  Her 15 free throws against Mississippi Gulf Coast on Nov. 19, 2016 is the third most in a single game in program history.

LSUE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST:
1. Renotta Edwards (2005-07)             1,195
2. Jennifer Hicks (2008-10)                  899
3. Kayla Armstrong (2006-08)              825
4. Rylie James (2016-Present)             728
5. Casey Broussard (2003-05)              668

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: The Bengals recently enjoyed one of the most successful offensive games in the last decade of the program.  LSUE scored 103 points in a December 2 mauling of Patrick Henry.  The total was the most under Amanda Clemons and the highest since 2010.  The 103-65 victory also had the largest margin of victory for the Bengals since 2014.  LSUE tied a season high with five players in double figures.

TWINBILL, TWIN KILLING: In the three weekend doubleheaders, the LSUE has dominated its opponents with back-to-back 20-plus point victories.  The Bengals defeated Coastal Alabama-North (Nov. 3-4) by 20 points each time out.  LSUE most recently beat Southwestern Christian (Nov. 24-25) by 21 and 28 points.  The Bengals followed that up on Dec. 1-2 with blowouts of Patrick Henry by 21 and 38 points.  It's the second straight season LSU Eunice has scored back-to-back 20-plus point wins.  Last year, the Bengals notched blowout wins of Southern-Shreveport (24) and Delgado (25) on Feb. 1 and Feb. 4, 2017.
 
BOARD GAMES: The Bengals are cleaning up on the glass this season, ranking 4th nationally in total rebounds per game (52.3).  LSUE's 24.3 offensive rebounds per game is ranked 2nd in the NJCAA.  All this despite no Bengal is averaging more than 9 rebounds per game (Jaleya Gold).

FROM DOWNTOWN EUNICE: The Bengals are proving that it is quality over quantity when it comes from long range.  Despite firing just 16.4 three point attempts per game (ranked 119^th), LSUE is hitting at a 35.0 percent clip which is ranked 24^th overall in the NJCAA.  Arianna Dargin leads the way ranked 9^th in the country with a 52.2 (12 of 23) three-point percentage. Sissy Saucier (45.5 pct.) is also ranked in the NJCAA Top 50.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Sophomores Jaleya Gold and Gabby Harrington were voted team captains for the 2017-2018 season.  The duo both started last year for the Bengals and are two of five sophomores on this year's team. 
 
SPREAD THE LOVE: All 11 Bengals to dress out during opening weekend scored at least a point; five were in double figures (Dargin, Saucier, James, Gold and Landry).  Eight Bengals have notched double digit point totals in games this season.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES:  This is the second meeting this season and ever between LSU Eunice and Arkansas State-Mid-South.  The Bengals won the first meeting ever earlier this season, 96-86, on November 9 in Eunice.
LOCAL PRODUCE: The Bengals feature a majority of student-athletes that hail from the around the Eunice area.  Gabrielle Harrington (Erath), Breanna Doucet (Sam Houston), Sissy Saucier (South Beauregard), Arianna Dargin (Iowa), Miya McKinney (Ville Platte), Sarah Guidry (Lake Arthur), Tachiana Ledet (Northside), Bethany Broussard (Iowa), Rylie James (Basile) and Whitney Landry (Iota) all played high school basketball within 50 miles of LSU Eunice.
 
WINNING PEDIGREE: The ten incoming freshman had a knack for winning at the high school level.  In their junior and senior high school seasons, the group won a state title, made three championship game appearances and five semifinals.