University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Grayson Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team, Lady Eagles Picked Seventh
10/14/2024 1:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference today announced its 2024-25 Preseason Teams and Coaches Poll. The league's 14 head coaches selected fifth year center and Hattiesburg native Melyia Grayson to the Preseason Second Team and picked Southern Miss to finish seventh overall.
Grayson, who looks to cap off an already illustrious career in the Black & Gold, started in all 34 games for the Lady Eagles' WNIT squad last season. Her 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game placed her on the All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team – her first time on an All-Conference team since being named C-USA Honorable Mention in 2021-22.
She led the Lady Eagles in rebounding and field goal percentage last season and scored 430 points to join the 1,000-point club. Ahead of this season, she sits with 1,195 points – 19th-most in program history. One of the nation's best inside threats, Grayson connected on 54 percent of her shots last season.
Including Grayson, Southern Miss returns five from last season's WNIT run: Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.), Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.) and Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.). A total of eight newcomers join the squad this season, led by five high school signees – Micah Cooper (Carrollton, Texas), Jaime Gallatly (Maffra, Victoria), Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.), Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) and Ava Shields (Hammond, La.).
Additionally, two players transfer in from the junior college ranks. Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) spent the last two seasons down Highway 49 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College while Samantha Shanks (Webbers Falls, Okla.) transfers in from Connors State College in Warner, Okla.
Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) transfers in from Arkansas State for her final year of eligibility after playing two seasons at ULM prior to last year.
The Lady Eagles return to the floor in exhibition action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against Mississippi College. Tipoff at Reed Green Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. Admission to the game will be free to all fans.
Fans can still purchase season tickets for the 2024-25 season by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425), by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com or by stopping by the Ticket Office in the Pat Ferlise Center on the corner of West 4th Street and Golden Eagle Avenue.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
Celebrating 50 Seasons of Southern Miss Women's Basketball
The 2024-25 season of Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball marks a major milestone for the program and for The University of Southern Mississippi as the women's basketball program celebrates its 50th season of competition. Following the adoption of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Southern Miss added women's basketball and women's tennis as official athletic programs beginning in the 1975-76 season. Since then, the Lady Eagles have laid out five decades of excellence on and off the court. To celebrate this golden jubilee, Southern Miss women's basketball will host its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion on Saturday, January 18, against South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum.
Follow The Lady Eagles
Follow the Lady Eagles on Twitter (@SouthernMissWBB), Instagram (@southernmisswbb) or on Facebook (/SouthernMissWBB) to stay up-to-date on Southern Miss women's basketball. Fans can visit Southern Miss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
Grayson, who looks to cap off an already illustrious career in the Black & Gold, started in all 34 games for the Lady Eagles' WNIT squad last season. Her 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game placed her on the All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team – her first time on an All-Conference team since being named C-USA Honorable Mention in 2021-22.
She led the Lady Eagles in rebounding and field goal percentage last season and scored 430 points to join the 1,000-point club. Ahead of this season, she sits with 1,195 points – 19th-most in program history. One of the nation's best inside threats, Grayson connected on 54 percent of her shots last season.
Including Grayson, Southern Miss returns five from last season's WNIT run: Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.), Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.) and Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.). A total of eight newcomers join the squad this season, led by five high school signees – Micah Cooper (Carrollton, Texas), Jaime Gallatly (Maffra, Victoria), Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.), Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) and Ava Shields (Hammond, La.).
Additionally, two players transfer in from the junior college ranks. Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) spent the last two seasons down Highway 49 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College while Samantha Shanks (Webbers Falls, Okla.) transfers in from Connors State College in Warner, Okla.
Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) transfers in from Arkansas State for her final year of eligibility after playing two seasons at ULM prior to last year.
The Lady Eagles return to the floor in exhibition action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against Mississippi College. Tipoff at Reed Green Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. Admission to the game will be free to all fans.
Fans can still purchase season tickets for the 2024-25 season by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425), by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com or by stopping by the Ticket Office in the Pat Ferlise Center on the corner of West 4th Street and Golden Eagle Avenue.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
Celebrating 50 Seasons of Southern Miss Women's Basketball
The 2024-25 season of Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball marks a major milestone for the program and for The University of Southern Mississippi as the women's basketball program celebrates its 50th season of competition. Following the adoption of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Southern Miss added women's basketball and women's tennis as official athletic programs beginning in the 1975-76 season. Since then, the Lady Eagles have laid out five decades of excellence on and off the court. To celebrate this golden jubilee, Southern Miss women's basketball will host its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion on Saturday, January 18, against South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum.
Follow The Lady Eagles
Follow the Lady Eagles on Twitter (@SouthernMissWBB), Instagram (@southernmisswbb) or on Facebook (/SouthernMissWBB) to stay up-to-date on Southern Miss women's basketball. Fans can visit Southern Miss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
– #McNelisStrong | #SMTTT –
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