Women’s Basketball Hosts William Carey for Education Day Game

Friday, November 7

Reed Green Coliseum

11 a.m.

Southern Miss

William Carey

Tickets

Jakayla Johnson leads a huddle against Northern Illinois

Women’s Basketball Hosts William Carey for Education Day Game

11/6/2025 5:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss women's basketball looks to move to 2-0 on the young 2025-26 season against the crosstown William Carey Lady Crusaders in the annual battle for the Mayor's Cup. The Lady Eagles will also play host to over 3,000 local elementary and middle school students as part of Education Day at Reed Green Coliseum with tipoff set for 11 a.m.

M.K. Turk Circle will close to all traffic for the game at 2 a.m. Friday and will remain closed through the end of the game. Fans are encouraged to park in the Pete Taylor Park Lot or along Kay James Drives. Handicap parking will be available in both lots.

Southern Miss (1-0) got its first win of the year over Northern Illinois on Monday at Reed Green Coliseum in dominant fashion. The Lady Eagles' 12 three-point baskets are the most in nearly nine years and only the fifth time in school history the team has hit at least 12 three-point baskets. Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) led the way with 16 points thanks to a 4-of-5 night beyond the arc.

Thames was joined in double-figures by fellow newcomers Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Carly Keats (Philadelphia, Miss.) who added on 13 and 12 points, respectively. White also led the way on the boards, finishing with nine total rebounds on the night. Southern Miss finished 12-of-23 from beyond the arc for a 52.2 percent performance while hitting all nine free throw attempts.

About the Lady Crusaders
William Carey (3-0) enters the game fresh off a 55-51 win over Dillard on Tuesday. The Lady Crusaders are led by Shaneal Corpuz's 18.3 points per game with Leah Sutton adding on 13.3 points per game as well. Corpuz also leads the group with 9.0 rebounds per game while Sutton has the team's top spot in assists with 10.

First-year head coach Jessica Garriga is leading her alma mater after succeeding former WCU head coach and current athletic director, Tracy English. Garriga graduated from William Carey in 2004 following her playing career, which began at Southern Miss in 1999. She played one season under Coach Rick Reeves in 1999-00 before missing the remainder of the season with an ACL tear. Garriga is in her 11th overall year with William Carey as a coach after joining the program ahead of the 2015-16 campaign.

The William Carey Series
Southern Miss meets William Carey for the 23rd time and for the 15th-straight season. The Lady Eagles hold a 21-1 overall advantage in the series, which began in the 1977-78 season. Southern Miss has won 20-straight games since 1986-87 with William Carey's only win in the series coming on Jan. 19, 1978.

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