University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women’s Basketball Celebrates 50th Season
10/10/2024 2:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss Department of Athletics has announced the celebration of 50 seasons of women's athletics at The University of Southern Mississippi on January 18, 2025, in conjunction with the women's basketball game against South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum.
Any and all former Lady Eagle athletes, coaches, managers and other staff are encouraged to attend. For more information, please email assistant head coach Barbara Farris (barbara.farris@usm.edu) to get your name on the overall Lady Eagle database and to receive an invitation to this Golden Anniversary.
Attendees for the day will be treated to a tour of campus, a pregame event and special courtside seats during the game against South Alabama.
"We are so excited to have the opportunity to welcome back all our former players for this historical celebration," said 21st-year head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "Without these trailblazers, our program would not be where it is today. The foundations these women laid over the past five decades allow our staff and players to reap extraordinary benefits today. It is our goal that we can continue to build on that winning tradition and continue to create lasting memories for everyone in our Lady Eagle program.
Coming off of their miraculous run to the WNIT Super 16, the Lady Eagles have participated in 17 postseason tournaments. Eight teams ended their season in the NCAA Tournament, most notably the 1993-94 squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Additionally, the Lady Eagles made the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's Region III Tournament in 1981 and the 2019 Women's Basketball Invitational.
On the court, 56 Lady Eagles have earned all-conference honors, along with 28 all-tournament selections, four conference players of the year, four conference freshmen of the year, five tournament MVP selections, two defensive players of the year, six coach of the year awards and 10 All-America selections.
The Lady Eagles' most-decorated alumnae Janice Felder (1990-94) earned the program's only First Team Kodak All-America selection in 1994 after earning Kodak Honorable Mention honors in 1992 and 1993. Felder also earned Women's Basketball News Service All-American honors in 1991-92. She was also named Metro Conference Player of the Year three consecutive years as well as earning four consecutive first team all-conference honors. She is the all-time leader in points and rebounds and the only women's basketball player in the Legend's Club.
Last season, two Lady Eagles, Domonique Davis (2021-24) and Melyia Grayson (2020-25) joined the 1,000-point club with Davis finishing with the sixth most points in program history. Grayson currently sits with 1,195 career points ahead of her final season in Hattiesburg. Davis, along with fellow 2024 graduate Mahoganie Williams (2023-24), were selected by professional clubs in Hungary and Croatia, respectively. Davis and Williams are the 18th and 19th professional players selected from Southern Miss.
Davis also became the fourth Lady Eagle to earn a spot on three First Team All-Conference teams, joining Felder, Pauline Love (2007-10) and Jamierra Faulkner (2010-14) as the only other three-time selections. Davis was also named a finalist for the Gillom Trophy twice and was the fifth player to earn the honor. Faulkner earned Southern Miss' only Gillom Trophy in 2013-14 after finishing as a finalist in 2012-13. Love, Tamara Jones (2013-15) and Brittanny Dinkins (2013-17) also earned finalist positions.
Other Southern Miss greats include, Portland McCaskill (1981-85) was the first player to earn All-American honors as she was named to the Fast Break All-America team in 1984-85. Lesha Franklin (1986-88)-Fast Break All-America Third Team in 1987-88, Brenda Williams (1986-87)-Fast Break All-America Honorable Mention, Gina Griffin (1986-90)-AWSF Fast Break Magazine All-American Fourth Team in 1989-90, Brandy Reed (1994-96) -UPI Honorable Mention All-American in 1995-96, and Kendra Reed (2005-09)-National Strength and Conditioning All-American in 2006. Brandy Reed was named the first Conference USA Player of the Year in the inaugural season. Diana Lyons (1977-79), who earned MAIAW All-Region III honors in 1977-78. Lyons, along with Nancy Faulk (1977-81), was named MAIAW All-State for two-straight seasons.
Entering its 50th season, the program has had only four coaches in its history beginning with Dr. Bob McBee (1975-77) and followed by Kay James (1977-99), Rick Reeves (1999-04) and current head coach Joye Lee McNelis (2004-present). James earned four Coach of the Year honors – three from the Metro (1989, 1992, 1994) and one from Conference USA (1996) – while McNelis earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors in 2014 and 2017. James also received the Carol Eckman Award in 1998 and the WBCA Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 while McNelis was named the recipient of the USBWA's Pat Summit Most Courageous Award in 2024.
In total, 16 Lady Eagles have had their names enshrined the M-Club Alumni Sports Hall of Fame including: Shirley Jones-Hill (1986), Portland McCaskill Brown (1992), Helen Grant (1993), Joye Lee-McNelis (1997), Janice Felder (2000), Nancy Faulk (2001), Diana Lyons Jones (2002), Tanya Bullock (2003), Angela Atterberry Jackson (2011), Nedra Hosey (2014), Patricia Nash-Griffin (2015), Wilhelmina "Kat" Smith (2015), Pam McCoy (2016), Renee Magee (2017), Pauline Love (2022) and Kendra Reed (2023). Kendra Reed was also named to The University of Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame in 2006.
Any and all former Lady Eagle athletes, coaches, managers and other staff are encouraged to attend. For more information, please email assistant head coach Barbara Farris (barbara.farris@usm.edu) to get your name on the overall Lady Eagle database and to receive an invitation to this Golden Anniversary.
Attendees for the day will be treated to a tour of campus, a pregame event and special courtside seats during the game against South Alabama.
"We are so excited to have the opportunity to welcome back all our former players for this historical celebration," said 21st-year head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "Without these trailblazers, our program would not be where it is today. The foundations these women laid over the past five decades allow our staff and players to reap extraordinary benefits today. It is our goal that we can continue to build on that winning tradition and continue to create lasting memories for everyone in our Lady Eagle program.
Coming off of their miraculous run to the WNIT Super 16, the Lady Eagles have participated in 17 postseason tournaments. Eight teams ended their season in the NCAA Tournament, most notably the 1993-94 squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Additionally, the Lady Eagles made the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's Region III Tournament in 1981 and the 2019 Women's Basketball Invitational.
On the court, 56 Lady Eagles have earned all-conference honors, along with 28 all-tournament selections, four conference players of the year, four conference freshmen of the year, five tournament MVP selections, two defensive players of the year, six coach of the year awards and 10 All-America selections.
The Lady Eagles' most-decorated alumnae Janice Felder (1990-94) earned the program's only First Team Kodak All-America selection in 1994 after earning Kodak Honorable Mention honors in 1992 and 1993. Felder also earned Women's Basketball News Service All-American honors in 1991-92. She was also named Metro Conference Player of the Year three consecutive years as well as earning four consecutive first team all-conference honors. She is the all-time leader in points and rebounds and the only women's basketball player in the Legend's Club.
Last season, two Lady Eagles, Domonique Davis (2021-24) and Melyia Grayson (2020-25) joined the 1,000-point club with Davis finishing with the sixth most points in program history. Grayson currently sits with 1,195 career points ahead of her final season in Hattiesburg. Davis, along with fellow 2024 graduate Mahoganie Williams (2023-24), were selected by professional clubs in Hungary and Croatia, respectively. Davis and Williams are the 18th and 19th professional players selected from Southern Miss.
Davis also became the fourth Lady Eagle to earn a spot on three First Team All-Conference teams, joining Felder, Pauline Love (2007-10) and Jamierra Faulkner (2010-14) as the only other three-time selections. Davis was also named a finalist for the Gillom Trophy twice and was the fifth player to earn the honor. Faulkner earned Southern Miss' only Gillom Trophy in 2013-14 after finishing as a finalist in 2012-13. Love, Tamara Jones (2013-15) and Brittanny Dinkins (2013-17) also earned finalist positions.
Other Southern Miss greats include, Portland McCaskill (1981-85) was the first player to earn All-American honors as she was named to the Fast Break All-America team in 1984-85. Lesha Franklin (1986-88)-Fast Break All-America Third Team in 1987-88, Brenda Williams (1986-87)-Fast Break All-America Honorable Mention, Gina Griffin (1986-90)-AWSF Fast Break Magazine All-American Fourth Team in 1989-90, Brandy Reed (1994-96) -UPI Honorable Mention All-American in 1995-96, and Kendra Reed (2005-09)-National Strength and Conditioning All-American in 2006. Brandy Reed was named the first Conference USA Player of the Year in the inaugural season. Diana Lyons (1977-79), who earned MAIAW All-Region III honors in 1977-78. Lyons, along with Nancy Faulk (1977-81), was named MAIAW All-State for two-straight seasons.
Entering its 50th season, the program has had only four coaches in its history beginning with Dr. Bob McBee (1975-77) and followed by Kay James (1977-99), Rick Reeves (1999-04) and current head coach Joye Lee McNelis (2004-present). James earned four Coach of the Year honors – three from the Metro (1989, 1992, 1994) and one from Conference USA (1996) – while McNelis earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors in 2014 and 2017. James also received the Carol Eckman Award in 1998 and the WBCA Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 while McNelis was named the recipient of the USBWA's Pat Summit Most Courageous Award in 2024.
In total, 16 Lady Eagles have had their names enshrined the M-Club Alumni Sports Hall of Fame including: Shirley Jones-Hill (1986), Portland McCaskill Brown (1992), Helen Grant (1993), Joye Lee-McNelis (1997), Janice Felder (2000), Nancy Faulk (2001), Diana Lyons Jones (2002), Tanya Bullock (2003), Angela Atterberry Jackson (2011), Nedra Hosey (2014), Patricia Nash-Griffin (2015), Wilhelmina "Kat" Smith (2015), Pam McCoy (2016), Renee Magee (2017), Pauline Love (2022) and Kendra Reed (2023). Kendra Reed was also named to The University of Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame in 2006.
– #McNelisStrong | #SMTTT –
Players Mentioned
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