University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Basketball Downed Doubters, Won Fans in 2014-15
4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Perspective is a quality of character that often takes years to develop. How fortunate, then, is the Southern Miss women's basketball team to have players who, despite the pain of losing to Michigan in the Elite 8 of the Women's NIT, were immediately able to appreciate the gravity of their accomplishments in a 2014-15 season in which no small amount of history was made.
The Lady Eagles' 25-10 mark would be laudable under any circumstance, but this performance came in a year in which the bulk of the team's talent was found in a pair of seniors, a junior and five sophomores and when many thought a giant, Jamierra Faulkner-shaped hole would be left unfilled after last year's all-everything point guard moved on to the WNBA.
"We are very proud of what we accomplished this year," senior center Voche' Martin said. "People didn't think we'd be this good because we did lose a superstar last year. But against all the odds, we accomplished so much. Coach told us (after the Michigan game) that she was proud of us. She started with three positive things. We reached 5,400-something fans, we reached the Elite 8 and we had a 25-win season. If that's not going out with a bang as a senior I don't know what is."
After a thrilling season and enough come-from-behind and last-second games to leave most coaches and fans with a nervous tick, the Lady Eagles entered their WNIT Elite 8 game with Michigan having achieved history.
Southern Miss had already posted its best showing in the WNIT and attracted a record 5,480 and to Reed Green Coliseum for what proved to be the season finale.
"I think it's something they can take and they can build on," Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "Twenty-five wins, 27 wins last year, an Elite 8, and to set a home attendance record is unbelievable. They know they were a part of making something special happen at Southern Miss."
Postgame, players and coaches alike were effusive in their praise of the Southern Miss faithful who packed the coliseum and provided a consistent roar of support.
"It sent chills down my body," Martin said. "The fact that I can see my coach yelling at me but all I can see is her mouth moving. There's no sound coming out due to the energy of the crowd. You can't help but feed off of that. As a senior setting a record for attendance, I have not complaints at all. That's something I can take with me and tell my kids who will be playing basketball about. Mom sold out a crowd, you know."
On Sunday, there was pain from losing to Michigan, but no player seemed defeated by the moment. Historic runs don't come along often and the Lady Eagles know it.
"I'm not satisfied, but why should we hang our heads," junior guard Jerontay Clemons said. "There's nothing to be sad about. I think we did great and I'm looking forward to next year."
Over the course of the season gone by, Southern Miss played in 14 games decided by five points or less and five overtime contests.
At season's end, the Lady Eagles erased double-digit deficits in five consecutive games, including back-to-back-to-back come-from-behind wins in the WNIT.
"I had an amazing ride with these girls," Martin said. "I wouldn't change anything. They gave me everything they had. As a senior, I couldn't ask for more."
There was no shortage of laudable performers on this year's team.
Jones was the team's leading scorer, having averaged 16.2 points per game to go along with an average of 7.2 rebounds per game. She also earned her way into the Southern Miss 1,000-point club, no small feat given that Jones only played two seasons in the Black and Gold.
Clemons made huge strides this year and finished with an average of 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. She also dished out 111 assists and made 62 steals.
Senior Brooke Rhodes, who'd come to Hattiesburg following three years at Delta State, made the most of her one year of eligibility at Southern Miss by averaging 7.4 points per game and leading the team in three-pointers made (67) and three-point shooting (39.2 percent).
Martin and sophomores Brittany Dinkins and Kierra Jordan were all solid contributors having averaged 6.5, 6.9 and 5.7 points respectively.
Sophomore Alex Coyne, who along with Clemons drew the task of replacing Faulkner at point guard, was a floor general and dished out a team-best 157 assists to go along with 61 steals and 91 boards.
Moments after the final game of the 2014-15 campaign, Lee-McNelis spoke with pride, and no shortage of tears, about the trio of seniors - Martin, Rhodes, and Jones - who'd carried Southern Miss to a new level in just two short years.
"I told them two things," Lee-McNelis said. "I want you leave this program and know that there are no shortcuts in life. What you put in is what you get out ... What you give is what you get ... The second thing I want them to use as a platform into their careers is to have a passion in your destiny and not just and interest. I think that this group of seniors came in and were very passionate about impacting this program and making a difference and they did. You couldn't ask for a better crowd to send them into the next phase of their lives."
