Year 20 of the McNelis Era Begins at Reed Green Coliseum

Joye Lee-McNelis on First Day of Practice 2023-24

Year 20 of the McNelis Era Begins at Reed Green Coliseum

9/27/2023 7:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – One day, or day one? This was 20th-year head coach Joye Lee-McNelis' question to her team on the first day of practice of the 2023-24 season.

The reigning Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Champions began their day with an hour of weight training before taking the floor for their 1-hour, 45-minute practice. The session opened with team stretches and a speech from McNelis. In it, she asked her team if their attitude was 'one day, I'll get there,' or 'I will make it happen on day one."

'One day' implies that good things may come to those who wait, earning their reward 'one day,' but McNelis and her team looked to seize the first day—and every day after—and make it their own. This attitude helped the 2022-23 Lady Eagles run off five-straight wins to close out the regular season for Southern Miss' first regular season conference title since 1993-94.

Now, McNelis looks to use the same approach she has in each of her 19 prior years in the Hub City, although this time the Lady Eagles have a target on their backs. For now, McNelis believes her team's first full practice together was a success.

"Today I felt like we had good energy," said McNelis. "We did a lot of teaching today because we have six newcomers. We intentionally set up one team to be Dom's team, which was going to be the tougher team with the most newcomers so that she could respond in a leadership role. Eventually, she did that. She struggled with it early and eventually we saw her push through that, which is huge."

Senior guard and 2022-23 All-Sun Belt Conference First Teamer Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.) leads the charge as the team's seasoned veteran and locker room leader. The DeRidder, La. native poured on a career-best 541 points last season to lead Southern Miss to the Sun Belt semifinals.

"Now that I'm a senior and this is my last year, it means a little bit more to me," said Davis. "My role will stay the same with the team in being that leader that Coach McNelis and my team need me to be. It's definitely going to be a challenge just because we're going into our second year in the Sun Belt."

Including Davis, Southern Miss returns six letterwinners from last year's championship squad: Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), Noelani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y.), Emma Wallhoff (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Asjha Leake (Cibolo, Texas) and Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.). Southern Miss will also feel the benefits of having back Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.), a two-time letterwinner who sat out last season due to injury.

In total, three starters are back from last year's conference title squad, but Davis see this as any other year.

"This is basketball, this is fun," said Davis. "Pressure is for people who have stuff going on in real life. You could say there's pressure, but this is all fun. We definitely know that we're not a surprise anymore. Last year, we were new to the conference, but people still respected us. They voted us top four in the conference and knew that we had some players. It's the same this year, but now we know we can win games in this league. So, there's no added pressure—we've just got to go out and have fun."

Joining the seven, McNelis and her coaching staff strengthen the 2023-24 group with six additions. Three former prep players, Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.), Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.) Elle Blatchford (Canton, Ga.)—join three transfers—Mahoganie Williams (Monroe, La.), Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Atria Dumas (Houston, Texas)—to round out the team.

The high number of newcomers may complicate others plans for their first practice, but McNelis and her staff felt confident after the first day on the floor.

"We felt that the vocal communication of our returning players in teaching our younger players was really really good," said McNelis. "We put in our matchup zone today, just the beginnings of it, and nobody knows where they're going except for the returners. As you watch here, you watch a lot of teaching. Looking back, comparing this to other first day practices with a lot of new players, this is one of the better ones."

Fans can get their first look at the 49th edition of the Lady Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 1, as Southern Miss hosts Mississippi College in an exhibition matchup at Reed Green Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Season and individual game tickets are available for purchase at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus during normal business hours.

– @SouthernMissWBB | SouthernMiss.com –