EUNICE, La. – For first time this season, the LSU Eunice basketball team faces a true road trip with back-to-back games in the Magnolia State.  The Bengals head to Pearl River on Saturday for a 2:00PM tip-off followed by a game at Mississippi Gulf Coast at 5:30PM.
 
The games are return trips after LSUE (12-2) handed both the Wildcats (W, 74-65 on Nov. 16) and the Bulldogs (W, 78-72 on Nov. 21) losses earlier this season inside the HPRE Center.
 
The Bengals ride a nine game win streak into the weekend.  It's the longest win streak under Amanda Clemons and the school's longest since a 16-game tear during the 2013-14 campaign.  Rylie James has shined for the Bengals during the recent streak, averaging 18 points per game in that span.
 
LSUE heads into the new year fresh off back-to-back wins over Louisiana College's JV team at home.  The Bengals were last in action on December 29 for a 98-62 beatdown.  James had a team's best 21 points in that contest.
 
Pearl River (5-2) returns to action after a month-long layoff for the holiday season with its most recent game coming in a 53-48 loss to Meridian on December 4.  The Wildcats are led by sophomore Rah Franklin with 10.7 points per game.  Franklin led PRCC with 16 points in the two team's matchup back in November.
 
Mississippi Gulf Coast (5-3) will also face the Bengals after more than a month long layoff.   The Bulldogs defeated Delgado CC 55-23 back on December 6.  MGCCC is led by the duo of Azaria Howard (10.4 points/game) and Eanna Sims (10.0 points/game). 
 
LSU Eunice will return home for a pair of games against Lone Star College-Cy-Fair January 19-20.  The series kicks off a four game mini-homestand.  Fans can also find the latest Bengals information on social media via Twitter (@LSUEBengalsWBB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBasketball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals).   
 
 

GAME 15: LSU Eunice (12-2) vs. Pearl River (5-2)
Date/Time: January 6, 2018 | 2:00PM
Site: Poplarville, Ms.
Arena: Marvin R. White Coliseum
 
GAME 16: LSU Eunice (12-2) vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast (5-3)
Date/Time: January 8, 2018 | 5:30PM
Site: Perkinston, Ms.
Arena: Weathers/Wentzell Center

Radio: None
TV/Internet: None
 
Social Media: @LSUBengalsWBB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceBasketball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
 
SERIES VS. PEARL RIVER
All-Time Record: Series Tied 1-1
At Eunice, La.: LSUE Leads 1-0
At Perkinston, Ms.: First Meeting
In Region 23 Tournament: PRCC Leads 1-0
Under Amanda Clemons: LSUE Leads 1-0
Current Streak: LSUE +1
 
SERIES VS. MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
All-Time Record: MGC Leads 19-12
At Eunice, La.: LSUE Leads 10-7
At Perkinston, Ms.: MGC Leads 12-2
Under Amanda Clemons: MGC Leads 4-3
Current Streak: LSUE +1

THE COACHES

LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Amanda Clemons (Mississippi College)
Career Record: 35-58  (5th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
 
PEARL RIVER
Head Coach: Scotty Fletcher (William Carey)
Career Record: 21-29 (3rd Season), Record at Pearl River: Same
 
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
Head Coach: Hope Adams (Union University)
Career Record: 5-3 (1st Season), Record at Mississippi Gulf Coast: Same

STORY LINES

• The Bengals are set for their first true back-to-back road trip of the 2017-2018 season.
• LSU Eunice takes a nine game win streak into Saturday'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' 21 points in the Bengals' win over Louisiana College's JV on Dec. 29 puts her 41 points off of Kayla Armstrong for 3^rd.
• The Bengals are dominating on the glass this season.  LSUE ranks 2nd nationally in offensive rebounds per game, grabbing 23.4 a night.  The Bengals are also tabbed 4th in total rebounds per game, snagging 50.8 per game.
• LSUE is also turning up the heat on the defensive end.  The Bengals average 17.4 steals per night, which ranks 5th 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 784 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 25 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)             784
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 (50.8).  LSUE's 23.4 offensive rebounds per game is ranked 2nd in the NJCAA.  All this despite no Bengal is averaging more than 8 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 15.9 three point attempts per game (ranked 126^th), LSUE is hitting at a 34.2 percent clip which is ranked 27^th overall in the NJCAA.  Arianna Dargin leads the way ranked 25^th in the country with a 52.2 (14 of 31) three-point percentage.

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.
 
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.