Saturday, December 19
Reed Green Coliseum
6 P.M.
Southern Miss
-20,00 CUSA
57
vs
50
William Carey
0-2
1
2
3
4
F
William Carey
17
9
7
17
50
Southern Miss.
18
9
14
16
57
Grayson Pushes Southern Miss Over William Carey
12/19/2020 11:16:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball
Hattiesburg, Miss. – In just her second game as a Lady Eagle, freshman Melyia Grayson dropped 21 points to lead Southern Miss to a 57-50 victory over William Carey on Saturday night at Reed Green Coliseum.
"My expectation is high of this group," head coach Joye-Lee McNelis said. "I think it's important that [the players] reflect and we reflect as coaches and see areas that we've got to continue to get better at. I had to sweat a whole lot for us to be able to pull that win out."
Grayson's 21 points matched the most from a freshman since teammate Kelsey Jones also had 21 against Blue Mountain College back in 2018.
The Hattiesburg, Miss. native was joined by senior Jalise Smallwood and fellow freshman Kahia Warmsley in double figures, with each having 10 points apiece. It marked the second-straight night that a trio of Lady Eagles combined for more than 40 points.
The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the first half as Southern Miss (2-0) went to the locker room clinging to a one point advantage at 27-26.
The Lady Eagles locked in defensively coming out of halftime, holding the Crusaders to just 2-of-12 from the field in the quarter. After making their first field goal attempt, William Carey went the final 9:23 in the third with just one made basket thanks in part to a stifling defensive effort from Southern Miss.
"That was the key. We talked about it in the locker room at halftime, about denying the basketball. You cannot allow them to catch it inside the 3-point line. I think that was the difference," McNelis added.
The Lady Eagles combined to go 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the final frame to put the game away. Smallwood added six points from the charity stripe, including a pair with 47 seconds left to seal the win for the Black and Gold.
Southern Miss will be off the next 13 days for the Christmas break before returning to action on Jan. 1 as they open Conference USA play at UTEP.
"My expectation is high of this group," head coach Joye-Lee McNelis said. "I think it's important that [the players] reflect and we reflect as coaches and see areas that we've got to continue to get better at. I had to sweat a whole lot for us to be able to pull that win out."
Grayson's 21 points matched the most from a freshman since teammate Kelsey Jones also had 21 against Blue Mountain College back in 2018.
The Hattiesburg, Miss. native was joined by senior Jalise Smallwood and fellow freshman Kahia Warmsley in double figures, with each having 10 points apiece. It marked the second-straight night that a trio of Lady Eagles combined for more than 40 points.
The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the first half as Southern Miss (2-0) went to the locker room clinging to a one point advantage at 27-26.
The Lady Eagles locked in defensively coming out of halftime, holding the Crusaders to just 2-of-12 from the field in the quarter. After making their first field goal attempt, William Carey went the final 9:23 in the third with just one made basket thanks in part to a stifling defensive effort from Southern Miss.
"That was the key. We talked about it in the locker room at halftime, about denying the basketball. You cannot allow them to catch it inside the 3-point line. I think that was the difference," McNelis added.
The Lady Eagles combined to go 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the final frame to put the game away. Smallwood added six points from the charity stripe, including a pair with 47 seconds left to seal the win for the Black and Gold.
Southern Miss will be off the next 13 days for the Christmas break before returning to action on Jan. 1 as they open Conference USA play at UTEP.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
WC
USM
FG%
.372
.344
3FG%
.333
.077
FT%
.591
.636
RB
40
34
TO
24
14
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballMissy Bilderback Presser - March 27, 2025
Thursday, March 27
Jeremy McClain Presser - March 27, 2025
Thursday, March 27
Missy Bilderback Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, March 27
Thank You Coach Joye Lee-McNelis
Saturday, March 01