
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Southern Miss Heads to Iron City for Sunday Meeting Against UAB
11/30/2024 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern Miss women's basketball concludes its five-game road swing Sunday, Dec. 1, against UAB in Birmingham. The 71st meeting of the series is set to tip off at 11 a.m. at the Blazers' Bartow Arena.
Game Eight // Southern Miss (2-5) at UAB (4-2)
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 // 11 a.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ // Curt Bloom (PxP) and Mo Finely (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) // Jason Baker (PxP)
Bartow Arena (8,508) // Birmingham, Ala.
Starting Five
1) Southern Miss returns just five from last season's WNIT Super 16 squad, including four starters from the postseason run. In total, the Lady Eagles lost 55 percent of their scoring from last season and 44 percent of minutes played. Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) leads the group of five returners while riding a 59-game starting streak dating back to the 2022-23 season. Grayson is joined by fellow Mississippian Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.) and sophomore sharpshooter Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.) as the three Lady Eagles to start the majority of their games last year. Also returning is postseason point guard Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and reserve guard Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.).
2) With just five returners, Southern Miss added eight newcomers in the offseason spread between high school signees, junior college transfers and one Sun Belt Conference veteran. Freshmen include Micah Cooper (Carrollton, Texas), Jaime Gallatly (Maffra, Australia), Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.), Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) and Ava Shields (Hammond, La.). From the junior college ranks comes Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) via Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Samantha Shanks (Webbers Falls, Okla.) from Connors State College. Former ULM Warhawk and Arkansas State Red Wolf Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) reunites with her former coaches for her final season of eligibility to lead the newcomers.
3) Southern Miss introduced two new starting lineups in its trip to The Bahamas last week Je'Mya Evans made her debut on Nov. 23 while Nyla Jean started on Nov. 24 and 25 for her first return to the starting five since last season.
4) The Lady Eagles and Blazers meet for the 71st time in series history. The series is both team's most-played and dates back to 1979 when the Blazers were in their first season of playing basketball.
5) Head coach Joye Lee-McNelis is back for her 21st season at the helm of the Lady Eagle program. She sports a 331-292 record at Southern Miss and a 560-448 career record in 34 seasons as a head coach. Tomorrow's game will be her 61st against the Blazers as she holds a 36-24 record against UAB.
After This
Southern Miss returns home for two games at Reed Green Coliseum, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 5, against Mississippi Valley State.
As part of a doubleheader, tipoff is set for Noon CT with a stream on ESPN+ and broadcast on the Southern Miss Sports Network. For more information and tickets to the game, visit SouthernMiss.com.
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.
Game Eight // Southern Miss (2-5) at UAB (4-2)
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 // 11 a.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ // Curt Bloom (PxP) and Mo Finely (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) // Jason Baker (PxP)
Bartow Arena (8,508) // Birmingham, Ala.
Starting Five
1) Southern Miss returns just five from last season's WNIT Super 16 squad, including four starters from the postseason run. In total, the Lady Eagles lost 55 percent of their scoring from last season and 44 percent of minutes played. Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) leads the group of five returners while riding a 59-game starting streak dating back to the 2022-23 season. Grayson is joined by fellow Mississippian Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.) and sophomore sharpshooter Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.) as the three Lady Eagles to start the majority of their games last year. Also returning is postseason point guard Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and reserve guard Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.).
2) With just five returners, Southern Miss added eight newcomers in the offseason spread between high school signees, junior college transfers and one Sun Belt Conference veteran. Freshmen include Micah Cooper (Carrollton, Texas), Jaime Gallatly (Maffra, Australia), Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.), Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) and Ava Shields (Hammond, La.). From the junior college ranks comes Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) via Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Samantha Shanks (Webbers Falls, Okla.) from Connors State College. Former ULM Warhawk and Arkansas State Red Wolf Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) reunites with her former coaches for her final season of eligibility to lead the newcomers.
3) Southern Miss introduced two new starting lineups in its trip to The Bahamas last week Je'Mya Evans made her debut on Nov. 23 while Nyla Jean started on Nov. 24 and 25 for her first return to the starting five since last season.
4) The Lady Eagles and Blazers meet for the 71st time in series history. The series is both team's most-played and dates back to 1979 when the Blazers were in their first season of playing basketball.
5) Head coach Joye Lee-McNelis is back for her 21st season at the helm of the Lady Eagle program. She sports a 331-292 record at Southern Miss and a 560-448 career record in 34 seasons as a head coach. Tomorrow's game will be her 61st against the Blazers as she holds a 36-24 record against UAB.
After This
Southern Miss returns home for two games at Reed Green Coliseum, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 5, against Mississippi Valley State.
As part of a doubleheader, tipoff is set for Noon CT with a stream on ESPN+ and broadcast on the Southern Miss Sports Network. For more information and tickets to the game, visit SouthernMiss.com.
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 –
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