WBB Set to Host Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic

Friday, November 23

Reed Green Coliseum

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

Mississippi Valley State

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WBB Set to Host Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic

11/23/2018 2:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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It will be the 31st Classic for the Lady Eagles.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss Lady Eagles are set to tipoff in the 31st installment of the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. This year's participants include Mississippi Valley State, Sam Houston State, and Troy University.

The Lady Eagles have hosted the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic under several names, but it's been a longstanding tradition for the Southern Miss women's basketball program since its inception under former head coach Kay James.

Coach McNelis on the Thanksgiving Classic
"You have to play during Thanksgiving, you have to. So you can either play on the road or you can play at home. My philosophy is that you might as well play at home. It gives your players families the opportunity to come in town, the players have the opportunity to visit with family, have Thanksgiving with their family. It's so much more comfortable for them since you're not on the road and in a hotel, and it gives them so much more family time. It just makes it so much easier at home. Ever since Coach James had it when I was a player, when I became a head coach we've always had them, and I just believe it's what you should do. It's so much bigger than just a game, it's a time for family. You've got to play so it's a way to give back to these young ladies who have made such a sacrifice for this University and their families can come in and be a part. I also like to play a game either on the Tuesday before or the Tuesday afterwards so that if the families can take off a little longer, they can stay and watch another game. It gives that family that lives out of town the opportunity to come in and watch three games and watch their child play."

The History
Coach Kay James started the Lady Eagle Classic in the 1982-83 season, then taking place in December. After a few seasons without it, the Classic returned in the 1988-89 season, but took another year off in the 1981-82 season. The Lady Eagles were playing in other tournaments those seasons. The Classic returned for good in the 1991-92 season. James hosted a grand total of 11 Lady Eagle Classics. Rick Reeves, her successor, continued the tradition for the five seasons he served at the helm of the Lady Eagles from 1999-2004. Joye Lee-McNelis, a product of the Kay James era, has kept the Classic alive for the 15 seasons she has seen as head coach of the Lady Eagles, eight of which have been under the name of the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic.

By the Numbers
- 31 total Lady Eagle Classics
- 17 as Lady Eagle Classic
- 8 as Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic
- 20 taking place in November
- 10 taking place in December
- 1 taking place in January
- 15 seasons under McNelis (2004-05 to present)
- 5 seasons under Reeves (1999-2004)
- 11 seasons under James (1982-83, 1988-90, 1991-99)
- 58 total participants

The Competition
The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes, Sam Houston State Bearkats and the Troy Trojans have made their way to Hattiesburg for the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. The Devilettes are participating in the Classic for the seventh time, the most out of any other participant. They last played in the Classic in the 2015-16 installment. The Sam Houston State Bearkats are participating fort the first time in the Classic, as are the Troy Trojans.

The Lady Eagles will first face the Devilettes of MVSU on Friday night. The last time these two met was last season at Reed Green on Nov. 16, where the Lady Eagles were victorious in a 84-69 showing. Southern Miss is leading the series 17-2 and holds a winning streak of 13. When playing in Reed Green, the Lady Eagles are 13-1 against MVSU. The Devilettes are 2-3 on the season thus far, and are coming off a 51-101 loss to Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro. Their head coach, Ashley Walker-Johnson, is in her first season at MVSU. LaKendra Bassett is leading in points, rebounds and assists, but is a co-leader for rebounds with Jazmin Holmon, both having 19 rebounds.

The Sam Houston State Bearkats return to Reed Green for the fourth time in program history. Southern Miss leads the series 4-0 and is 3-0 in Reed Green. The Bearkats were last at USM in December of 2017 where they defeated SHSU 58-38. Sam Houston State is 2-2 on the season under head coach Ravon Justice who is in her first year in the driver's seat for the team. Jaylonn Walker leads the team in points with 52, and also leads in assists with 14. La'Sha Haynes leads the team in rebounds with 27. The Bearkats come to the Thanksgiving Classic after a 101-63 trouncing of Wiley College on their home court of Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas.

Troy is 3-1 this season under Chanda Rigby who is in her seventh season with the Trojans. Amber Rivers leads the Trojans in points with 47, Sky'Lynn Holmes leads in rebounds with 37 and Jasmine Robinson leads in assists with nine. Although the Lady Eagles will not face them in the Thanksgiving Classic, the last time the two met was in the 1982-83 season when the two played a home-and-home. Southern Miss leads the series 2-0 as they were victorious at home against the Trojans on Dec. 15 of 1982, 84-67. The Lady Eagles defeated the Trojans 83-80 at Trojan Arena in January of that same season.

Next Up
The Lady Eagles will play Sam Houston State on Saturday in the 4pm slot after Mississippi Valley State and Troy face off at 2pm. After the conclusion of the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic, Southern Miss will return to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at home against Northwestern State.