Wednesday, November 1
Reed Green Coliseum
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Mississippi College (Exh.)
Lady Eagles Primed for Exhibition Against Mississippi College
10/31/2023 1:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss women's basketball returns to action tomorrow, Nov. 1, against Mississippi College for an exhibition match. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. from Reed Green Coliseum.
FOLLOW ALONG
The game will not be streamed, but fans can follow along by listening to the radio broadcast on the Southern Miss Gameday App, on the Varsity Network App or on 92.7 FM in Hattiesburg. The Voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, and legendary Lady Eagle head coach Kay James will be on the call from Reed Green Coliseum.
STORYLINES
The exhibition matchup will be the Lady Eagles' first time back on the court since March 5, when Southern Miss fell to Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals. The reigning Sun Belt Conference regular season champions finished last season 21-10 overall and 13-5 in Sun Belt play and look to be improved for the upcoming year.
Although six of the 2022-23 team's letterwinners have moved on, Southern Miss' combination of newcomers and outstanding returners has the team primed for success for head coach Joye Lee-McNelis' 20th season at the helm of the program. Also new to the team this year, McNelis brought in two of the most experience assistant coaches in the country in Barbara Farris and Jessica Barber, who will be handling the frontcourt and guards, respectively.
Leading the returning players is Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.), a fifth-year senior sitting just one point away from 1,000 career points. Davis, who led the team in scoring, assists and steals last season, is tasked with leading the team back to the top of the Sun Belt Conference. Davis, along with Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), Noelani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y.), Emma Wallhoff (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Asjha Leake (Cibolo, Texas) and Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) account for 71 percent of last year's scoring and all return for another season. Joining them is Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.), who spent last season on the bench due to injury.
Six newcomers will pad out the Southern Miss lineup this season, including two Division I transfers. Three freshmen—Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.), Elle Blatchford (Canton, Ga.) and Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.)—all have skillsets that could allow them to earn high minutes in the Lady Eagle rotation. Atria Dumas (Houston, Texas) comes in after one season at Tyler JC to bolster the frontcourt. Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Mahoganie Williams (Monroe, Fla.) arrive via the transfer portal after two seasons at Georgia State and Norfolk State, respectively.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
The Choctaws finished last season 6-21 (5-19 Gulf South), but return nine letterwinners from that squad—including four of five starters. Mississippi College's leading scorer from last season, Kyiah Julian, poured in 11.9 points per game last season and returns for this year. She is joined by fellow started Brett Gardner, Karly Ivy and Keller Bigham. Gardner knocked down three-pointers at a rate of 43.4 percent and Bigham led the Choctaws with 4.4 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Southern Miss and Mississippi College first played on Nov. 24, 1976 and the Choctaws offered the then-Lady Golden Eagles a rude welcome to the MAIAW after a 103-52 Choctaw decision. At the time, collegiate women's basketball ran through Mississippi thanks to Mississippi College, the Mississippi University for Women and Delta State, who combined for four national championships and one runner up from 1971-77.
Since their first meeting, Southern Miss quickly caught up and surpassed Mississippi College and now holds a 17-11 lead in the series, winning the last six and eight of the last nine. Last season was the first time the two played in the regular season since 1990 and Southern Miss walked away with a 74-42 win thanks to the Choctaws' 33 turnovers.
FOLLOW ALONG
The game will not be streamed, but fans can follow along by listening to the radio broadcast on the Southern Miss Gameday App, on the Varsity Network App or on 92.7 FM in Hattiesburg. The Voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, and legendary Lady Eagle head coach Kay James will be on the call from Reed Green Coliseum.
STORYLINES
The exhibition matchup will be the Lady Eagles' first time back on the court since March 5, when Southern Miss fell to Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals. The reigning Sun Belt Conference regular season champions finished last season 21-10 overall and 13-5 in Sun Belt play and look to be improved for the upcoming year.
Although six of the 2022-23 team's letterwinners have moved on, Southern Miss' combination of newcomers and outstanding returners has the team primed for success for head coach Joye Lee-McNelis' 20th season at the helm of the program. Also new to the team this year, McNelis brought in two of the most experience assistant coaches in the country in Barbara Farris and Jessica Barber, who will be handling the frontcourt and guards, respectively.
Leading the returning players is Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.), a fifth-year senior sitting just one point away from 1,000 career points. Davis, who led the team in scoring, assists and steals last season, is tasked with leading the team back to the top of the Sun Belt Conference. Davis, along with Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), Noelani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y.), Emma Wallhoff (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Asjha Leake (Cibolo, Texas) and Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) account for 71 percent of last year's scoring and all return for another season. Joining them is Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.), who spent last season on the bench due to injury.
Six newcomers will pad out the Southern Miss lineup this season, including two Division I transfers. Three freshmen—Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.), Elle Blatchford (Canton, Ga.) and Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.)—all have skillsets that could allow them to earn high minutes in the Lady Eagle rotation. Atria Dumas (Houston, Texas) comes in after one season at Tyler JC to bolster the frontcourt. Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Mahoganie Williams (Monroe, Fla.) arrive via the transfer portal after two seasons at Georgia State and Norfolk State, respectively.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
The Choctaws finished last season 6-21 (5-19 Gulf South), but return nine letterwinners from that squad—including four of five starters. Mississippi College's leading scorer from last season, Kyiah Julian, poured in 11.9 points per game last season and returns for this year. She is joined by fellow started Brett Gardner, Karly Ivy and Keller Bigham. Gardner knocked down three-pointers at a rate of 43.4 percent and Bigham led the Choctaws with 4.4 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Southern Miss and Mississippi College first played on Nov. 24, 1976 and the Choctaws offered the then-Lady Golden Eagles a rude welcome to the MAIAW after a 103-52 Choctaw decision. At the time, collegiate women's basketball ran through Mississippi thanks to Mississippi College, the Mississippi University for Women and Delta State, who combined for four national championships and one runner up from 1971-77.
Since their first meeting, Southern Miss quickly caught up and surpassed Mississippi College and now holds a 17-11 lead in the series, winning the last six and eight of the last nine. Last season was the first time the two played in the regular season since 1990 and Southern Miss walked away with a 74-42 win thanks to the Choctaws' 33 turnovers.
– #McNelisStrong –
Players Mentioned
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