Niesha Pierce

22

Class: Sophomore Hometown: Gulfport, Miss. High School: Harrison Central

Height: 5-10 Position: G Experience: 1L

Versatile player ... Adds depth ... Very skilled ... Can play multiple positions ... Will challenge for a starting spot in the lineup ... Worked hard in the offseason to improve conditioning ... Freshman (2010-11): Finished the season averaging 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game ... Played in 28 games and started 17 contests ... Was one of six newcomers to see substantial playing time, averaging 23.8 minutes per game ... Scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in her Southern Miss debut against McNeese State (11/12) ... Posted her first double-figure scoring game against UNO with 10 points (11/21) ... Was 1-of-2 from the field against La.-Lafayette (11/26) with two steals ... Scored four points against Kentucky (11/27) ... Missed two games with an ankle injury ... Played nine minutes against Tennessee State (12/11) ... Hit a three-pointer against St. John's (12/18) ... Was 1-of-1 from the field against Fresno (12/19) ... Scored a basket against Alabama (12/28) ... Pulled down five rebounds against Louisiana Tech (1/2) ... Came off the bench to score four points and grab two rebounds against UAB (1/6) ... Scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds against Houston (1/13) ... Earned her fourth start against Tulsa (1/16) ... Scored four points to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals ... Had seven points and three rebounds against Tulane (1/20) ... Tied her season high in points with 10 against East Carolina (1/23) ... Tossed in a season-high 17 points against SMU (1/27) ... Scored eight points against Memphis (1/30) ... Dished out a season-high seven assists to go with four rebounds and four points against Marshall (2/6) ... Tossed in 10 points to go with three assists and two steals against East Carolina (2/10) ... Had five points and two rebounds against UAB (2/13) ... Scored five points to go with five rebounds, two assists and two steals against Memphis (2/17) ... Scored only five points against Rice (2/20) ... Tallied eight points and grabbed three rebounds against UTEP (2/24) ... Played 35 minutes against UCF (2/27) and scored six points while dishing out five assists and grabbing seven rebounds ... Also had two steals ... Recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Marshall (3/2) ... Tossed in nine points and grabbed four rebounds against Memphis in the C-USA Tournament ... Had 35 assists and 23 steals on the year ... Prep: A four-year letterwinner at Harrison Central High School for Coach Nancy Ladner ... Averaged 14.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as a senior ... Named Biloxi Sun Herald All-Coast Player of the Year ... 2009 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen member ... Earned all-state honors ... Helped her team advance to the semifinals of the 5A State championship, finishing with a 22-2 record ... Named to the North-South Junior All-Star Team ... Member of the all-Sun Herald team ... Class 5A Division 8 MHSAA All-Star Team member ... Named her team's MVP and best defenisve player for two years ... Averaged 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists as a junior ... Personal: Daughter of Patricia Pierce-Fairley and Winston Fairley ... twin sister Nitesha is also a member of the Lady Eagle team ... An exercise science major.