
Late Southeastern Surge Proves Too Much for Southern Miss
11/15/2024 8:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles led for most of the first half, but a pesky Southeastern squad never quite gave up. The Lady Lions picked up their first lead of the game a minute into the third quarter and held on for a gritty 68-61 win on Friday night at the Pride Roofing University Center. Melyia Grayson stared for the Lady Eagles, scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the Lady Eagles' losing effort.
Southern Miss (2-2) came out with a purpose, scoring the first nine points of the game in three minutes of play. Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) scored the first six and a Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) three-point basket gave Southern Miss its largest lead of the day.
Southeastern (2-1) though, had not backed down yet, scoring 18 in the rest of the frame to make it a 22-18 advantage after the first quarter. The Lady Lions' press continued as an Arianna Patton three tied the game at 28-28 with 5:35 to play in the half. Southern Miss pushed the lead back to as many as six and held a four-point, 36-32 advantage heading into the locker room.
As a group, the Lady Eagles shot 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the floor and were an impressive (4-of-8) from beyond the arc. Southeastern forced eight Southern Miss turnovers in the first 20 minutes, though Southern Miss won the battle of the board 24-18.
Coming out of the half, Southeastern snatched the lead for the first time of the night, leading 38-37 1:30 into the third quarter. The Lady Lions pushed their lead to six before Southern Miss came all the way back to lead by three with 1:50 left in the frame.
Cheyanne Daniels sank back-to-back free throws to give Southeastern a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Southern Miss grabbed the lead back on a Grayson and-one connection before Lexi Alexander's elbow jumper tied the game once again. The SLU lead was as many as four with six minutes to play, but Grayson took over after the media timeout. The Hub City native scored seven the fourth quarter and tied the game with 3:31 to play.
The Lady Lions took advantage of Southern Miss' foul troubles in the final quarter, making six trips to the line in the final minute of the game. Southern Miss was unable to force a Lady Lion turnover on the inbounds and ultimately fell by the final score of 68-61.
Grayson finished with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double – her first on the young season – to lead all scorers and rebounders. She was joined by Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Rowe in double figures with Jean finishing with 14 and Rowe with 11.
Southeastern placed six in the double-figure scoring, led by Alexius Horne's 13 points. Southern Miss shot well, finishing 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) but was unable to score timely baskets down the stretch.
Up Next
Southern Miss leaves Wednesday, Nov. 20, for its first international trip in 17 years as the Lady Eagles look to take on the Battle4Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
The Lady Eagles open tournament play against No. 17 Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Bahamas Resort. The game will be streamed on FloCollege and broadcast on the Southern Miss Sports Network.
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.
Southern Miss (2-2) came out with a purpose, scoring the first nine points of the game in three minutes of play. Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) scored the first six and a Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) three-point basket gave Southern Miss its largest lead of the day.
Southeastern (2-1) though, had not backed down yet, scoring 18 in the rest of the frame to make it a 22-18 advantage after the first quarter. The Lady Lions' press continued as an Arianna Patton three tied the game at 28-28 with 5:35 to play in the half. Southern Miss pushed the lead back to as many as six and held a four-point, 36-32 advantage heading into the locker room.
As a group, the Lady Eagles shot 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the floor and were an impressive (4-of-8) from beyond the arc. Southeastern forced eight Southern Miss turnovers in the first 20 minutes, though Southern Miss won the battle of the board 24-18.
Coming out of the half, Southeastern snatched the lead for the first time of the night, leading 38-37 1:30 into the third quarter. The Lady Lions pushed their lead to six before Southern Miss came all the way back to lead by three with 1:50 left in the frame.
Cheyanne Daniels sank back-to-back free throws to give Southeastern a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Southern Miss grabbed the lead back on a Grayson and-one connection before Lexi Alexander's elbow jumper tied the game once again. The SLU lead was as many as four with six minutes to play, but Grayson took over after the media timeout. The Hub City native scored seven the fourth quarter and tied the game with 3:31 to play.
The Lady Lions took advantage of Southern Miss' foul troubles in the final quarter, making six trips to the line in the final minute of the game. Southern Miss was unable to force a Lady Lion turnover on the inbounds and ultimately fell by the final score of 68-61.
Grayson finished with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double – her first on the young season – to lead all scorers and rebounders. She was joined by Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Rowe in double figures with Jean finishing with 14 and Rowe with 11.
Southeastern placed six in the double-figure scoring, led by Alexius Horne's 13 points. Southern Miss shot well, finishing 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) but was unable to score timely baskets down the stretch.
Up Next
Southern Miss leaves Wednesday, Nov. 20, for its first international trip in 17 years as the Lady Eagles look to take on the Battle4Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
The Lady Eagles open tournament play against No. 17 Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Bahamas Resort. The game will be streamed on FloCollege and broadcast on the Southern Miss Sports Network.
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 –
Team Stats
USM
SL
FG%
.393
.400
3FG%
.417
.286
FT%
.667
.600
RB
44
36
TO
19
10
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
Missy Bilderback Presser - March 27, 2025
Thursday, March 27
Jeremy McClain Presser - March 27, 2025
Thursday, March 27
Missy Bilderback Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, March 27
Thank You Coach Joye Lee-McNelis
Saturday, March 01