Saturday, March 23
Reed Green Coliseum
5 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Murray State
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Southern Miss Welcomes Murray State for Second Round WNIT Action
3/22/2024 7:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Reed Green Coliseum once again plays host to WNIT action, now with a second round shootout between Southern Miss and Murray State. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, as part of a jam-packed day in Hattiesburg with the winning team advancing to play either ULM or Grambling State next week.
Game 33 | Southern Miss (19-13, 10-8 Sun Belt) vs. Murray State (20-11, 12-8 Missouri Valley)
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 5:02 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Lee Roberts (PxP) and Larry Boyd (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) | Jason Baker (PxP) and Kay James (Color)
Reed Green Coliseum (8,095) | Hattiesburg, Miss.
LAST TIME OUT
Southern Miss' Magnificent Seven used a 31-point fourth quarter to cap a double-digit comeback victory over UAB. The Lady Eagles came back from a 13-point overall deficit and 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 79-74 in front of 1,130 fans at Reed Green Coliseum in the first round of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.) led all scorers with 26 points while Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) finished with 22 points after scoring 14 in the fourth quarter alone. Grayson and Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.) both brought down double doubles with Grayson leading both squads with 16 rebounds.
The game was Joye Lee-McNelis' 999th career game as a head coach and first win the WNIT since 2015.
ABOUT MURRAY STATE
The Racers play true to their name, scoring a over 85 points per game to rank fifth in the nation in offense. Murray State (20-11, 12-8 Missouri Valley) last took the floor as part of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Moline, Ill., with a 71-70 loss to Missouri State.
The Racers are paced by senior forward Katelyn Young and her 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Young is one of four Racers to average double-figure scoring and is an integral part of the MSU plan of attack.
THE MURRAY STATE SERIES
Southern Miss and Murray State have met once before on January 1, 1993, as part of the Lady Eagle Classic. Janice Felder put up 32 points in 25 minutes as the Lady Eagles cruised to a 91-59 win over Murray State.
Notably, current MSU head coach Rechelle Turner started for Murray State that day at Reed Green Coliseum.
THE WNIT
The Women's National Invitational Tournament enters its 26th season after resurrecting itself in 1998. This season will mark Southern Miss' seventh appearance in the tournament with the first coming in 1982 as part of the WNIT predecessor, the NWIT (National Women's Invitational Tournament) in Amarillo, Texas.
In six prior appearances, Southern Miss is 8-7 overall and made the Great Eight in 2015. This is Southern Miss' first trip to the WNIT since 2018 and the 10th overall game in Reed Green Coliseum as part of the tournament. The Lady Eagles are 7-2 in Hattiesburg when playing in the WNIT.
Game 33 | Southern Miss (19-13, 10-8 Sun Belt) vs. Murray State (20-11, 12-8 Missouri Valley)
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 5:02 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Lee Roberts (PxP) and Larry Boyd (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) | Jason Baker (PxP) and Kay James (Color)
Reed Green Coliseum (8,095) | Hattiesburg, Miss.
LAST TIME OUT
Southern Miss' Magnificent Seven used a 31-point fourth quarter to cap a double-digit comeback victory over UAB. The Lady Eagles came back from a 13-point overall deficit and 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 79-74 in front of 1,130 fans at Reed Green Coliseum in the first round of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.) led all scorers with 26 points while Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) finished with 22 points after scoring 14 in the fourth quarter alone. Grayson and Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.) both brought down double doubles with Grayson leading both squads with 16 rebounds.
The game was Joye Lee-McNelis' 999th career game as a head coach and first win the WNIT since 2015.
ABOUT MURRAY STATE
The Racers play true to their name, scoring a over 85 points per game to rank fifth in the nation in offense. Murray State (20-11, 12-8 Missouri Valley) last took the floor as part of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Moline, Ill., with a 71-70 loss to Missouri State.
The Racers are paced by senior forward Katelyn Young and her 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Young is one of four Racers to average double-figure scoring and is an integral part of the MSU plan of attack.
THE MURRAY STATE SERIES
Southern Miss and Murray State have met once before on January 1, 1993, as part of the Lady Eagle Classic. Janice Felder put up 32 points in 25 minutes as the Lady Eagles cruised to a 91-59 win over Murray State.
Notably, current MSU head coach Rechelle Turner started for Murray State that day at Reed Green Coliseum.
THE WNIT
The Women's National Invitational Tournament enters its 26th season after resurrecting itself in 1998. This season will mark Southern Miss' seventh appearance in the tournament with the first coming in 1982 as part of the WNIT predecessor, the NWIT (National Women's Invitational Tournament) in Amarillo, Texas.
In six prior appearances, Southern Miss is 8-7 overall and made the Great Eight in 2015. This is Southern Miss' first trip to the WNIT since 2018 and the 10th overall game in Reed Green Coliseum as part of the tournament. The Lady Eagles are 7-2 in Hattiesburg when playing in the WNIT.
– #McNelisStrong –
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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