University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Ink Two on National Signing Day
11/13/2024 1:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss women's basketball received official commitments from two signees as part of national signing day. The beginnings of head coach Joye Lee-McNelis' 2025 signing class include some of the country's top junior standouts.
"We are excited to have two north Louisiana ladies become part of our Lady Eagle Basketball family," said McNelis, the Lady Eagles' 21st-year head coach. "Ramiah 'Moonie' Augurson and Carley Hamilton will be instrumental in the future of Southern Miss women's basketball."
Southern Miss' 2025 class consists of:
Ramiah "Moonie" Augurson
Monroe, La. // Wossman HS
"Moonie is a very versatile player who will bring so much athleticism to our team on both sides of the ball," said McNelis. "She is a three-level scorer with a high motor and we expect her to make an immediate impact in our program. As a person, Moonie is of high character and passionate about being the best in life. We look forward to being a part of her college experience."
A winner of back-to-back-to-back state championships, Augurson and her Wossman High School Lady Cats are one of the greatest teams ever assembled in Louisiana high school history. A native of Monroe, La., Augurson averaged 13 points per contest as a junior to give the Lady Wildcats their third state championship in as many seasons.
In her three years at Wossman under head coach Otis Robinson, Augurson is a combined 87-12 overall and 26-0 in district play as a Lady Wildcats. She scored nine in a stacked Wossman starting lineup in the Division II non-select championship game. The Lady Wildcats blasted South Beauregard 63-22 to clinch the title.
Her 13 points per game netted her second team LWSA 3A All-State honors. On the club circuit, she plays for the Little Rock, Ark., based Mavs Elite AAU. Mavs Elite competes on the Under Armor Circuit and is coached by Ed Durham.
She is ranked as one of the top prospects in the state and is looking to move even further up the rankings as a senior. Prep Girls Hoops ranks her as the top prospect in the state in their preseason class of 2025 rankings. She committed to Southern Miss on Oct. 8, 2024.
Carley Hamilton
Shreveport, La. // Huntington HS
"Carley is a high-energy, scoring point guard," said McNelis. "Everything Carley does is quick, fast and explosive. Her on-ball defense should net her lots of steals and spot in the record books. As a person, Carley has a high character and wakes up each day to be great. We are excited to have her be a part of our program."
Ranked as the No. 3 guard in Louisiana, Hamilton is a prolific shooter at Huntington High School in Shreveport, La. As a junior, she scored 626 on a 44.8 percent clip (202-of-451) from the floor. She also made 48 three pointers and was effective at the free throw line, making 99 of her 132 attempts.
The Huntington Lady Raiders swept through the LHSAA's 4A District I en route to the No. 1 overall seed in the LHSAA Division I Select tournament. Behind Hamilton's 17.9 points per game, the Lady Raiders 27-5 in the regular season and 8-0 in district play, earning a first-round bye in the tournament. She also totaled 84 assists, 92 steals and 152 rebounds on the year.
Huntington advanced to the Marsh Madness Final Four at the Pride Roofing University Center in Hammond, La., before falling to No. 5 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge).
For her efforts on the year netted her First Team All-District 1-4A honors as well as a spot on the LWSA 4A All-State Second Team for the first time in her career. Hamilton sat out her sophomore campaign at Huntington High School due to LHSAA rules after transferring from Captain Shreve High School following her freshman season.
She plays on the Under Armor AAU Circuit for the Coach Ed Durham's Mavs Elite in Little Rock, Ark.
Heading into her senior year, Hamilton is one of the favorites for the coveted Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year award. She committed to Southern Miss on Oct. 11, 2024.
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.
"We are excited to have two north Louisiana ladies become part of our Lady Eagle Basketball family," said McNelis, the Lady Eagles' 21st-year head coach. "Ramiah 'Moonie' Augurson and Carley Hamilton will be instrumental in the future of Southern Miss women's basketball."
Southern Miss' 2025 class consists of:
Ramiah "Moonie" Augurson
Monroe, La. // Wossman HS
"Moonie is a very versatile player who will bring so much athleticism to our team on both sides of the ball," said McNelis. "She is a three-level scorer with a high motor and we expect her to make an immediate impact in our program. As a person, Moonie is of high character and passionate about being the best in life. We look forward to being a part of her college experience."
A winner of back-to-back-to-back state championships, Augurson and her Wossman High School Lady Cats are one of the greatest teams ever assembled in Louisiana high school history. A native of Monroe, La., Augurson averaged 13 points per contest as a junior to give the Lady Wildcats their third state championship in as many seasons.
In her three years at Wossman under head coach Otis Robinson, Augurson is a combined 87-12 overall and 26-0 in district play as a Lady Wildcats. She scored nine in a stacked Wossman starting lineup in the Division II non-select championship game. The Lady Wildcats blasted South Beauregard 63-22 to clinch the title.
Her 13 points per game netted her second team LWSA 3A All-State honors. On the club circuit, she plays for the Little Rock, Ark., based Mavs Elite AAU. Mavs Elite competes on the Under Armor Circuit and is coached by Ed Durham.
She is ranked as one of the top prospects in the state and is looking to move even further up the rankings as a senior. Prep Girls Hoops ranks her as the top prospect in the state in their preseason class of 2025 rankings. She committed to Southern Miss on Oct. 8, 2024.
Carley Hamilton
Shreveport, La. // Huntington HS
"Carley is a high-energy, scoring point guard," said McNelis. "Everything Carley does is quick, fast and explosive. Her on-ball defense should net her lots of steals and spot in the record books. As a person, Carley has a high character and wakes up each day to be great. We are excited to have her be a part of our program."
Ranked as the No. 3 guard in Louisiana, Hamilton is a prolific shooter at Huntington High School in Shreveport, La. As a junior, she scored 626 on a 44.8 percent clip (202-of-451) from the floor. She also made 48 three pointers and was effective at the free throw line, making 99 of her 132 attempts.
The Huntington Lady Raiders swept through the LHSAA's 4A District I en route to the No. 1 overall seed in the LHSAA Division I Select tournament. Behind Hamilton's 17.9 points per game, the Lady Raiders 27-5 in the regular season and 8-0 in district play, earning a first-round bye in the tournament. She also totaled 84 assists, 92 steals and 152 rebounds on the year.
Huntington advanced to the Marsh Madness Final Four at the Pride Roofing University Center in Hammond, La., before falling to No. 5 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge).
For her efforts on the year netted her First Team All-District 1-4A honors as well as a spot on the LWSA 4A All-State Second Team for the first time in her career. Hamilton sat out her sophomore campaign at Huntington High School due to LHSAA rules after transferring from Captain Shreve High School following her freshman season.
She plays on the Under Armor AAU Circuit for the Coach Ed Durham's Mavs Elite in Little Rock, Ark.
Heading into her senior year, Hamilton is one of the favorites for the coveted Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year award. She committed to Southern Miss on Oct. 11, 2024.
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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