Davis Named Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, Lady Eagles Picked Third
10/16/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Southern Miss women's basketball senior guard Domonique Davis has been named the Preseason Player of the Year by the Sun Belt Conference. Southern Miss also ranked third in the preseason coaches poll.
"We are happy for Dom and her accomplishments," said 20th-year head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "Since her time at Southern Miss, we have seen tremendous growth in every aspect of her life. Dom loves to compete and hates to lose, even in game of horse. This competitive spirit has helped her improve each year and she know that she has one more year to reach her childhood dreams. Dom is very appreciative of her teammates and coaches and she knows that it takes a team to help one accomplish this honor. Congratulations to Dom and all of the preseason team members.
Davis was also named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. The DeRidder, La., native enters her third and final season with the Lady Eagles, owning a career scoring mark of 999 points and 957 points at Southern Miss.
Last season, Davis earned First Team All-SBC laurels after scoring 541 points in 30 games and 29 starts to lead Southern Miss to the regular season conference title. She also piled on 105 assists, 62 steals and 139 rebounds, all while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor.
As a team, the Lady Eagles garnered the third-most votes in the preseason coaches poll and one first-place selection. Southern Miss' 159 votes trails only James Madison (186) and Troy (177) with the Dukes and Trojans receiving nine and three first-place votes, respectively.
"Basketball season is just around the corner and the excitement is in the air," said McNelis. "This preseason poll makes it seem very real. Congratulations to James Madison and Troy for being selected as the top two teams in the league. We are honored to be selected as number three; we will continue to work daily to improve so that in the end we can compete for the Sun Belt Conference championship.
McNelis and Davis will travel to the Sun Belt Conference offices on Wednesday, Oct. 18, for 2023-24 Sun Belt Basketball Media Day. The duo are scheduled to take the main stage at 1 p.m. and the Sun Belt Conference will be streaming the event on ESPN+.
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss [SR | G | DeRidder, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss SR | G | DeRidder, La.]
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G | Jesup, Ga.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.]
Roshala Scott, Marshall
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina [GR | G | Kernersville, N.C.]
Emily Carver, App State [JR | G | Asheville, N.C]
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama [SO | G | Mobile, Ala.]
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) - 186
2. Troy (3) - 177
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159
4. Old Dominion - 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131
6. Louisiana - 117
7. Texas State - 116
8. Arkansas State - 87
9. Marshall - 85
10. Coastal Carolina - 72
11. ULM - 71
12. App State - 54
13. Georgia State - 46
14. South Alabama - 20
"We are happy for Dom and her accomplishments," said 20th-year head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "Since her time at Southern Miss, we have seen tremendous growth in every aspect of her life. Dom loves to compete and hates to lose, even in game of horse. This competitive spirit has helped her improve each year and she know that she has one more year to reach her childhood dreams. Dom is very appreciative of her teammates and coaches and she knows that it takes a team to help one accomplish this honor. Congratulations to Dom and all of the preseason team members.
Davis was also named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. The DeRidder, La., native enters her third and final season with the Lady Eagles, owning a career scoring mark of 999 points and 957 points at Southern Miss.
Last season, Davis earned First Team All-SBC laurels after scoring 541 points in 30 games and 29 starts to lead Southern Miss to the regular season conference title. She also piled on 105 assists, 62 steals and 139 rebounds, all while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor.
As a team, the Lady Eagles garnered the third-most votes in the preseason coaches poll and one first-place selection. Southern Miss' 159 votes trails only James Madison (186) and Troy (177) with the Dukes and Trojans receiving nine and three first-place votes, respectively.
"Basketball season is just around the corner and the excitement is in the air," said McNelis. "This preseason poll makes it seem very real. Congratulations to James Madison and Troy for being selected as the top two teams in the league. We are honored to be selected as number three; we will continue to work daily to improve so that in the end we can compete for the Sun Belt Conference championship.
McNelis and Davis will travel to the Sun Belt Conference offices on Wednesday, Oct. 18, for 2023-24 Sun Belt Basketball Media Day. The duo are scheduled to take the main stage at 1 p.m. and the Sun Belt Conference will be streaming the event on ESPN+.
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss [SR | G | DeRidder, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss SR | G | DeRidder, La.]
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G | Jesup, Ga.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.]
Roshala Scott, Marshall
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina [GR | G | Kernersville, N.C.]
Emily Carver, App State [JR | G | Asheville, N.C]
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama [SO | G | Mobile, Ala.]
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) - 186
2. Troy (3) - 177
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159
4. Old Dominion - 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131
6. Louisiana - 117
7. Texas State - 116
8. Arkansas State - 87
9. Marshall - 85
10. Coastal Carolina - 72
11. ULM - 71
12. App State - 54
13. Georgia State - 46
14. South Alabama - 20
– #McNelisStrong | #SMTTT –
Players Mentioned
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