The women’s Conference USA Tournament kicks off next Wednesday in Farmer’s Branch, Texas. In this section we preview the tournament and break down how the other C-USA teams have performed this season.
The Billikens have a shot at a one, two or three seed.
Houston: The Cougars are tied for first place in C-USA, with UNC-Charlotte with a 8-1-1 mark, and a 10-6-1 overall record. Houston takes on SLU this weekend in Texas in a pivotal battle that could determine the conference champion.
Houston’s only loss in C-USA play was a 4-1 loss at UAB. The Cougars also tied C-USA co-leader UNCC 2-2.
Forward Lindsey Beiriger leads the Cougar attack with seven goals and four assists, for a total of 18 points.
Kristen Hogan, the other striker, provides the other scoring punch. She has tallied six goals and three assists on the season. Goalkeeper Michelle Denomme has started 12 games for the Cougars, posting a goals against average of 1.23. Houston could either be seeded one through three.
Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles come into the C-USA tourney with a 3-6-1 record in the conference and a 7-8-1 overall mark.
Southern Miss had trouble in C-USA play early on, losing five out of six matches.
But the Golden Eagles have turned things around as of late, goin
USM’s top scorers are Stacey Hall (8G, 3A, 19 points) and Leila McReynolds (7G, 5A 19 points). The Golden Eagles are scrapping with DePaul for the eighth and final spot in the tourney field.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles hold a 7-2-1 mark in the standings and a 10-6-2 overall record. Marquette tied SLU in its first conference game of the season, 1-1.
The Golden Eagles lost to Houston and UNCC, both of those results being 1-0 decisions. Marquette wraps up its conference play with a home game against DePaul.
Kelly Roethe paces the Golden Eagles with 10 goals and seven assists, for 27 points. Katherine Ward is also dangerous, as she has scored six goals this year. Marquette could be seeded from three to five.
South Florida: The Bulls find themselves in sixth place after a rough weekend. South Florida was in third place, with the chance to move up to second, but it lost two games to SLU and Houston.
A seven-game win streak highlighted the middle of the Bulls’ season.
But they have dropped four of their last five. USF closes out its C-USA season with UNCC.
Siri Nordby has netted 12 goals this season, while sophomore Tia Opliger has scored four goals while adding five assists. Goalkeeper Valerie Wetzel has a 0.87 GAA in 16 games played. USF can take either the fifth, sixth or seventh seed.
UNC Charlotte: The 49ers head into the final weekend of conference play tied for first with the Houston Cougars.
Both teams are 8-1-1. The Cougars will host the Billikens; the 49ers travel to South Florida.
UNCC’s eight conference victories mark a new school record for C-USA wins in a single season.
The 49er offense has scored 20 goals in 10 conference games, while allowing only five. In the last 14 regular-season C-USA games, dating back to last year, the 49ers are 11-1-2.
UNCC is led by sophomore Carrie Hughes, who is first on the team in goals (8) and points (20). Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Howell shores the 49er defense. Howell has played in every game this season-starting 14-and has allowed 14 goals, for a goals against average of 1.04.
But it’s in C-USA when she’s at her best. Howell has only allowed four conference goals, and her four solo shutouts have come against C-USA opponents.
UAB: The Blazers hold fifth place in the C-USA standings with a 6-3-1 record. Memphis comes to UAB on Friday for a contest that could either make the Blazers a fourth seed or a seventh seed.
Denise Peters and Adrienne Suffridge lead the Blazers. Peters has seven goals, while Suffridge has tallied four goals and three assists.
Lisa Nowoslawski has been less than solid in goal, holding a 1.50 GAA in the nets. UAB handed Houston its only loss of the year in C-USA play.
