Saturday, December 31
Mobile, Ala. / Mitchell Center
1 p.m.
Southern Miss
9-4,2-0Sun Belt
58
at
37
South Alabama
4-9,0-2Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Miss.
11
15
21
11
58
South Alabama
4
6
8
19
37
Lady Eagles Close 2022 With Dominant Win Over South Alabama
12/31/2022 5:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MOBILE, Ala. – Southern Miss women's basketball closes out 2022 and its first week in the Sun Belt with a 58-37 thrashing of South Alabama. Southern Miss led by as many 32 points before sitting emptying the bench in the fourth quarter.
Tale of the Tape
Joye Lee-McNelis' Lady Eagles (9-4, 2-0 Sun Belt) remain undefeated in Sun Belt play after holding South Alabama (4-9, 0-2 Sun Belt) to 37 points on 25 percent shooting, both the lowest marks by Lady Eagle opponents this season.
The Jaguars 37 points are the fewest allowed since giving up 40 to Samford in a 76-40 win on Nov. 18, 2018. South's 25 percent shooting is the worst by a Southern Miss opponent since Mississippi College's 26.4 percent.
A slow start from both teams left the Lady Eagles up 11-4 at the end of the first quarter, which would prove to be the last time South Alabama found itself within reach of the lead.
Rose Warren (Puckett, Miss. // Puckett HS) led all scorers at the half with seven points as Southern Miss began to pull away, leading 26-10 at the break.
A 21-point third quarter propelled by six points from Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss. // Hattiesburg HS) and Lauren Gross (Southaven, Miss. // North Florida). Gross' six came via two fast break three pointers and Grayson put the cherry on top of her day with a coast-to-coast steal, spin and layup.
Gross drained another three to put the Black & Gold up 32 with 6:26 remaining in the game. South Alabama managed to salvage a decent fourth quarter once McNelis placed her starters on the bench, outscoring Southern Miss 19-11 in the final frame.
Chardai Watkins (Panola, Ala. // Sumter Central HS) and Lani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y. // Northwest Florida State) quietly had career days. Watkins' eight points doubled her previous career high and her two steals tied a career-best as well.
Cornfield swiped six steals on the day, beating her previous best of four set against Mississippi College and William Carey.
Up Next
The Lady Eagles return to the Hub City after sweeping a four-game road swing against UC Irvine, Long Beach State, Troy and South Alabama with a 9-4 overall record and spotless 2-0 record in Sun Belt play.
Southern Miss next takes the floor on Thursday, Jan. 5, in Reed Green Coliseum, welcoming Sun Belt foe Louisiana for a 6 p.m. tip.
Tale of the Tape
Joye Lee-McNelis' Lady Eagles (9-4, 2-0 Sun Belt) remain undefeated in Sun Belt play after holding South Alabama (4-9, 0-2 Sun Belt) to 37 points on 25 percent shooting, both the lowest marks by Lady Eagle opponents this season.
The Jaguars 37 points are the fewest allowed since giving up 40 to Samford in a 76-40 win on Nov. 18, 2018. South's 25 percent shooting is the worst by a Southern Miss opponent since Mississippi College's 26.4 percent.
A slow start from both teams left the Lady Eagles up 11-4 at the end of the first quarter, which would prove to be the last time South Alabama found itself within reach of the lead.
Rose Warren (Puckett, Miss. // Puckett HS) led all scorers at the half with seven points as Southern Miss began to pull away, leading 26-10 at the break.
A 21-point third quarter propelled by six points from Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss. // Hattiesburg HS) and Lauren Gross (Southaven, Miss. // North Florida). Gross' six came via two fast break three pointers and Grayson put the cherry on top of her day with a coast-to-coast steal, spin and layup.
Gross drained another three to put the Black & Gold up 32 with 6:26 remaining in the game. South Alabama managed to salvage a decent fourth quarter once McNelis placed her starters on the bench, outscoring Southern Miss 19-11 in the final frame.
Chardai Watkins (Panola, Ala. // Sumter Central HS) and Lani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y. // Northwest Florida State) quietly had career days. Watkins' eight points doubled her previous career high and her two steals tied a career-best as well.
Cornfield swiped six steals on the day, beating her previous best of four set against Mississippi College and William Carey.
Up Next
The Lady Eagles return to the Hub City after sweeping a four-game road swing against UC Irvine, Long Beach State, Troy and South Alabama with a 9-4 overall record and spotless 2-0 record in Sun Belt play.
Southern Miss next takes the floor on Thursday, Jan. 5, in Reed Green Coliseum, welcoming Sun Belt foe Louisiana for a 6 p.m. tip.
Team Stats
USM
USA
FG%
.418
.250
3FG%
.313
.167
FT%
.875
.636
RB
35
37
TO
20
28
STL
17
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Guard
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