Lady Eagles Fall to ULM

Thursday, January 16

Reed Green Coliseum

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

5-12,1-5Sun Belt

ULM

7-10,3-3Sun Belt

ULM

Southern Miss.

Nyla Jean (14) against ULM on Jan. 16, 2025

1/16/2025 9:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Photo Gallery

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – ULM (7-10, 3-3 Sun Belt) used a 12-point run in the fourth quarter to escape Reed Green Coliseum with a 67-55 win over Southern Miss (5-12, 1-5 Sun Belt). Three double-figure performances from Southern Miss were not enough to overcome ULM's 44.6 percent performance from the floor.

Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) broke through for the game's first points to put the Lady Eagles on the board with a 2-0 advantage. ULM, though, responded with a 7-0 run of their own before Trinity Rowe (Pikeville, Ky.) found the basket again with under five minutes left the quarter.

The Warhawks jumped out to another 7-0 run forcing Southern Miss to use a timeout down 14-6. Southern Miss managed to close the margin slightly to trail 18-11 after the first 10 minutes. The Lady Eagles shot just 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from the floor in the frame compared to ULM's 8-of-16 mark (50 percent).

Southern Miss continued to battle, chipping into the Warhawk lead. Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.) made it a 20-15 game after turning a steal into two Lady Eagle points. Sieper found nylon again later in the quarter to make it a four-point game heading into the media break.

ULM scored eight of the game's next 12 points to lead 32-24 heading into the locker room. At the half, Southern Miss had no double-figure scorers and was led by Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) and Jean who each had six points.

As a team, Southern Miss finished just 11-of-30 from the floor in the first half and 2-of-11 from deep. The Warhawks made half of their 36 field goal attempts in the half and were leading on the boards 21-13. Southern Miss though, led in the turnover battle 10-8 at the break.

After missing its first two attempts of the quarter, Southern Miss made its next eight baskets without missing a shot, outscoring ULM 16-11 in the span. The Lady Eagles ended their run on a missed three but made 9-of-10 their shots in the span. A three-point basket from Rowe gave her a double-figure day and cut the lead to 46-45. Southern Miss held on the defensive end to go to the fourth quarter down one.

The Lady Eagles were a red-hot 10-of-14 from the floor in the third, shooting 71.4 percent in the frame.

After winning the third quarter 21-14, Jean gave Southern Miss its first lead since the first quarter on the first possession of the game after a trip to the charity stripe. ULM took the lead back on its next possession before Mikaylah Manley (Lake Charles, La.) found the basket from beyond the arc to make it a 52-50 game.

Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) cut the game to five once again in a 58-53 margin with 5:15 left in the game. The two teams traded seven total possessions before either one found the basket. Sieper stopped the scoreless streak with 1:53 to play, making it 58-55 after over five minutes without scoring.

ULM ended their scoreless streak on their next possession after 3:57 without a point. The basket from Cianté Downs was the Warhawks' first since 8:28 in the quarter. Unfortunately for the Lady Eagles, Southern Miss did not score again in the last 1:53. The Warhawks used a 10-0 run to close out the game and escape Reed Green Coliseum 67-55.

Sieper led the Lady Eagles with 11 points and was joined in double-figures by Rowe and Evans, who each finished with 10. ULM's Meloney Thames led all scorers with 20 points as one of three Warhawks in double-figures.

The Warhawks also led 37-31 on the boards and held a +3 turnover margin.

Up Next
Southern Miss celebrates 50 seasons of women's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Reed Green Coliseum as the Lady Eagles take on South Alabama at 2 p.m. Festivities begin on the floor at 1:50 p.m. with an alumni recognition ceremony taking place at halftime.

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.

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