University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Set to Host West Alabama in Exhibition
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Southern Miss_West Alabama_Game Notes 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team tips off the 2015-2016 season on Saturday as the Lady Eagles host West Alabama in an exhibition game at 4 p.m. Admission to the game is free.
Southern Miss Preview
Last year, Southern Miss had another captivating season, finishing 25-11 and 13-5 in Conference USA. After winning 27 games in the 2013-14 season, last year marked the first back-to-back 25-win seasons since the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.
The team also played in its second straight C-USA championship game, falling to Western Kentucky. The Golden Eagles then entered their second consecutive year of postseason play, making an impressive WNIT run.
Southern Miss defeated Texas Southern, TCU and Eastern Michigan at Reed Green Coliseum to make it to the Elite 8 of the WNIT. In front of 5,480 fans, the largest home crowd in women's basketball history, the Golden Eagles lost to Michigan 69-60 in the quarterfinals.
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, who is entering her 12th season at Southern Miss and her 25th season overall, returns just five letterwinners from last year. The group accounts for 35 percent of the team's offense and 32 percent of its rebounding.
Lone senior Jerontay Clemons is the top returner after averaging 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. Joining her are junior Brittanny Dinkins (5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds), junior Lashyra Cotton (3.6 points, 1.4 rebounds), sophomore Megan Brown (3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds), and sophomore Katie Dozier (2.0 points).
The Golden Eagles welcome eight newcomers, including four junior college transfers, a redshirt sophomore transfer, a redshirt freshman and a pair of true freshmen. The list of newcomers include guard Keri Jewett-Giles (Fr., Fort Myers, Fla.), center Caitlin Jenkins (Fr., Shreveport, La.), guard Jayla King (R-So.-TR, South Florida), guard Brittny Norris (Jr.-TR, Tyler JC), center Jessica Powers (R-Fr., Carriere, Miss.), forward Ariel Sneed (Jr.-TR, Kirkwood CC), forward Shayla Wilson (Jr.-TR, St. Petersburg College), and guard Tajanay Veiga (Jr.-TR, Midland College).
A Look at West Alabama
West Alabama posted a 10-16 record last season, finishing tenth in the Gulf South Conference and missing conference tournament play. The Tigers averaged 60 points and 40.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.9 percent from the field and 63.4 percent from the line.
This year's young UWA team is made up of five returners and nine newcomers. Eight players on the roster are listed underclassmen, and only one returner, senior guard Latisha McCollum, averaged more than ten minutes per game last season.
McCollum averaged 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. Other returners include Moejha Calmes (1.0 points, 0.6 rebounds), Brianna Davidson (1.8 points, 2.2 rebounds), Jessica Voyles (1.1 points, 1.5 rebounds), and Marriane Ward (1.0 points, 0.5 rebounds). This year the Tigers also welcome NAIA All-American Ariel Wilson, a junior guard transfer from Belhaven. Wilson averaged 19.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Head coach Rusty Cram begins his second season with the Tigers. In his 20 years as a collegiate head coach, including stints at Georgia Southern and Belhaven, Cram has a 277-279 record.
Next up
The Golden Eagles return to Reed Green Coliseum to host Alabama State in the Preseason WNIT on Friday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. for School Day.
