University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Monday, November 3
Reed Green Coliseum
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Northern Illinois
Southern Miss Opens Bilderback Era Against Northern Illinois In MAC-SBC Challenge
11/2/2025 12:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss opens the Missy Bilderback era in the 2025-26 season opener against Northern Illinois as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. The first-ever meeting between the Lady Eagles and Huskies is set for 6 p.m. Monday night at Reed Green Coliseum.
The Voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, and Kay James begin the evening with the Lady Eagle Basketball Courtside Show at 5:30 p.m. on 92.7 FM WFOR while Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd have the call on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting smttt.info/WBBTix or by calling the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425).
Fans are invited to join the Lady Eagles for a pregame ceremony honoring the lives of Lady Eagle basketball legends Joye Lee-McNelis and Janice Felder, who each passed away this offseason following battles with cancer.
About the Lady Eagles
Southern Miss (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) welcomes 10 newcomers to Reed Green Coliseum this season for the first game of the Bilderback era. All eyes are on the Lady Eagles, who were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.) and Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) both earned spots on the Sun Belt's Preseason Teams with Johnson slotting in on the first team and Thames on the third.
Of the 10 new additions, nine are transferring from a Division I program. Five transfers arrive from ULM alongside Bilderback, associate head coach Lauren Pittman and assistant coach Lauren Gross. Those five players are Johnson, Thames, Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.), Miriam Prince (Philadelphia, Miss.) and Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Ala.). Other Division I newcomers are Hayleigh Breland (Charlotte), Anaisha Carriere (Mississippi State), Carly Keats (Arkansas) and Timya Thurman (Auburn). The lone freshman signee on the team is Ramiah "Moonie" Augurson (Monroe, La.).
Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.) leads the way for two returning letterwinners after starting in all 31 games last year for the Lady Eagles. Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) is Southern Miss' other returner after playing in all 31 games with two starts last year. Redshirt freshman Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.) is prepped for her debut after taking a medical redshirt last season as true freshman.
About the Huskies
Northern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) is also under the direction of a first-year head coach, Jacey Brooks. Brooks was hired to take over the NIU program this offseason after two successful years at Buffalo as the Bulls associate head coach. She owns a 79-32 overall record as a head coach after four years at SUNY Cortland prior to moving to Buffalo.
The Huskies were picked to finish 13th in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, and no players were named to preseason teams. Much like Southern Miss, Northern Illinois welcomes nine new faces to their roster this year and returns four letterwinners and one starter from last season, Alecia Doyle. Northern Illinois raced to a 74-47 exhibition win over Benedictine last week, forcing 29 turnovers in the contest.
The Southern Miss-Northern Illinois Series
Monday's contest is the first meeting between the two squads. Northern Illinois is 3-1 against the Sun Belt in the MAC-SBC Challenge while Southern Miss is 2-2.
Support Southern Miss Women's Basketball
Support Southern Miss women's basketball by purchasing your season tickets today! Fans can secure seats at all 15 Lady Eagle home games this season for just $75. Visit smttt.info/WBBTix today to purchase your seats.
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.
The Voice of the Lady Eagles, Jason Baker, and Kay James begin the evening with the Lady Eagle Basketball Courtside Show at 5:30 p.m. on 92.7 FM WFOR while Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd have the call on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting smttt.info/WBBTix or by calling the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425).
Fans are invited to join the Lady Eagles for a pregame ceremony honoring the lives of Lady Eagle basketball legends Joye Lee-McNelis and Janice Felder, who each passed away this offseason following battles with cancer.
About the Lady Eagles
Southern Miss (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) welcomes 10 newcomers to Reed Green Coliseum this season for the first game of the Bilderback era. All eyes are on the Lady Eagles, who were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.) and Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) both earned spots on the Sun Belt's Preseason Teams with Johnson slotting in on the first team and Thames on the third.
Of the 10 new additions, nine are transferring from a Division I program. Five transfers arrive from ULM alongside Bilderback, associate head coach Lauren Pittman and assistant coach Lauren Gross. Those five players are Johnson, Thames, Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.), Miriam Prince (Philadelphia, Miss.) and Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Ala.). Other Division I newcomers are Hayleigh Breland (Charlotte), Anaisha Carriere (Mississippi State), Carly Keats (Arkansas) and Timya Thurman (Auburn). The lone freshman signee on the team is Ramiah "Moonie" Augurson (Monroe, La.).
Morgan Sieper (Tampa, Fla.) leads the way for two returning letterwinners after starting in all 31 games last year for the Lady Eagles. Je'Mya Evans (Gulfport, Miss.) is Southern Miss' other returner after playing in all 31 games with two starts last year. Redshirt freshman Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.) is prepped for her debut after taking a medical redshirt last season as true freshman.
About the Huskies
Northern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) is also under the direction of a first-year head coach, Jacey Brooks. Brooks was hired to take over the NIU program this offseason after two successful years at Buffalo as the Bulls associate head coach. She owns a 79-32 overall record as a head coach after four years at SUNY Cortland prior to moving to Buffalo.
The Huskies were picked to finish 13th in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, and no players were named to preseason teams. Much like Southern Miss, Northern Illinois welcomes nine new faces to their roster this year and returns four letterwinners and one starter from last season, Alecia Doyle. Northern Illinois raced to a 74-47 exhibition win over Benedictine last week, forcing 29 turnovers in the contest.
The Southern Miss-Northern Illinois Series
Monday's contest is the first meeting between the two squads. Northern Illinois is 3-1 against the Sun Belt in the MAC-SBC Challenge while Southern Miss is 2-2.
Support Southern Miss Women's Basketball
Support Southern Miss women's basketball by purchasing your season tickets today! Fans can secure seats at all 15 Lady Eagle home games this season for just $75. Visit smttt.info/WBBTix today to purchase your seats.
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.
– #ELEVATE | #SMTTT –
Players Mentioned
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