University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, March 10
Frisco, Texas / Ford Center at The Star
11:00 a.m.
Southern Miss
-712,511 CUSA
75
vs
85
(4E) FIU
-1311,88 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Miss.
12
19
19
25
75
FIU
19
19
23
24
85
Lady Eagles Conclude Season at Conference USA Tournament
3/10/2021 4:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas — Daishai Almond put up a career-high 22 points, but it wasn't enough to push the Lady Eagles past the Panthers of FIU, as Southern Miss fell 85-75 on Wednesday afternoon at the Ford Center.
"I love our kids and they have so much potential," head coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "The freshman are the future of our program and I can't wait to see their development. Kelsey Jones, Daishai Almond, and Destiny Smith have all played a lot of minutes together. They have to raise the level of consistency in their play going into next season. It's going to be a special group before it's all said and done."
Almond was 10-of-17 from the field and set a new career-high with 22 points. She added six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Athens, Ga. native led four Golden Eagles in double figures, as she was joined by Kahia Warmsley (14), Kelsey Jones (11) and Rose Warren (10).
Trailing by as many as 16 late in the third quarter, the Black and Gold used an 8-0 run at the start of the final quarter to cut the Panther lead to just five. Warren scored four of her 10 points in an 11-second burst that forced FIU into a timeout.
Warmsley would make it a one possession game with just 1:53 remaining. However, FIU ended the contest on 10-2 run to advance to the next round.
In their final game for Southern Miss, seniors Allie Kennedy and Jalise Smallwood combined for 13 points.
"I love our kids and they have so much potential," head coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "The freshman are the future of our program and I can't wait to see their development. Kelsey Jones, Daishai Almond, and Destiny Smith have all played a lot of minutes together. They have to raise the level of consistency in their play going into next season. It's going to be a special group before it's all said and done."
Almond was 10-of-17 from the field and set a new career-high with 22 points. She added six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Athens, Ga. native led four Golden Eagles in double figures, as she was joined by Kahia Warmsley (14), Kelsey Jones (11) and Rose Warren (10).
Trailing by as many as 16 late in the third quarter, the Black and Gold used an 8-0 run at the start of the final quarter to cut the Panther lead to just five. Warren scored four of her 10 points in an 11-second burst that forced FIU into a timeout.
Warmsley would make it a one possession game with just 1:53 remaining. However, FIU ended the contest on 10-2 run to advance to the next round.
In their final game for Southern Miss, seniors Allie Kennedy and Jalise Smallwood combined for 13 points.
Team Stats
USM
FIU
FG%
.447
.509
3FG%
.091
.435
FT%
.462
.760
RB
31
46
TO
12
27
STL
7
3
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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