Saturday, February 8
Reed Green Coliseum
2 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Ohio
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Lady Eagles Host Ohio in MAC-SBC Challenge
2/7/2025 4:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss closes a four-game homestand at Reed Green Coliseum and celebrates its 2025 senior class with a Saturday, Feb. 8, meeting against Ohio at 2 p.m. The game is a part of the second leg of the 2024-25 MAC-SBC Challenge.
The Lady Eagle Courtside Show with Jason Baker begins at 1:30 p.m. on the Southern Miss Sports Network with Kay James joining the broadcast for live coverage of the game. Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd will anchor the ESPN+ broadcast with in-app coverage beginning at 6 p.m.
Southern Miss will celebrate the careers of Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) in a postgame senior day ceremony.
Game 24 // Southern Miss (8-15, 4-8 Sun Belt) vs. Ohio (4-17, 2-9 Mid-American)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
TV: ESPN+ // Lee Roberts (PxP) & Larry Boyd (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) // Jason Baker (PxP) & Kay James (Color)
Reed Green Coliseum (8,095) // Hattiesburg, Miss.
About the Bobcats
The Bobcats enter round two of the MAC-SBC Challenge with a 4-17 overall record and 2-9 tally in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio has been victim to injuries this season and has greatly missed the absence of Jaya McClure, an All-MAC Preseason selection.
Head coach Bob Boldon is the program's winningest coach with his last victory marking his 200th in Athens. He holds a 298-247 career record in 18 overall seasons and is 200-159 in 12 seasons at Ohio.
Ohio is led in scoring by Kennedi Watkins' 15.2 points per game. Watkins also leads the team in field goal percentage with a 44.1 percent mark. Bailey Tabeling is the only other Bobcat to average double-figures on the year. Tabeling is also the team's leading in assists (53) and steals (40).
As a team, the Bobcats struggle in multiple categories. Their most-glaring stat line is their statistics on the glass. Out of 353 Division I teams, Ohio ranks 328th in rebounds and 350th in rebounding margin. The Bobcats average just 31.81 boards per game with a -11.5 margin.
The Ohio Series
Southern Miss and Ohio have met before at the 1984 Tennessee Tech University Classic in Cookeville, Tenn. The Lady Eagles – then the Lady Golden Eagles – won their season opener to advance to the Classic's championship game against host Tennessee Tech.
Against Ohio Teams
Southern Miss does not have much history with Ohio-based teams outside of 25 games played against Cincinnati as members of the Metro Conference and Conference USA. Outside of that, Southern Miss has played just seven games against six different Ohio programs including the first MAC-SBC Challenge game at Bowling Green.
At Reed Green Coliseum, Southern Miss is 8-4 against Ohio teams, last playing Akron in the 2023-24 MAC-SBC Challenge.
History in the Making
Melyia Grayson continues to etch her name in the Lady Eagle record books and made her way into the most prestigious group against Troy on Feb. 1. Her first basket of the game tied her with Joye Lee-McNelis, placing her in the top 10 in all-time points scored.
She is currently 15 points behind Kendra Reed (2005-09), who currently owns ninth place on the all-time charts.
Here is a list of Grayson's peers in this illustrious group of Lady Eagles:
Place Player Career Games Points
1 Janice Felder 1990-94 117 2,275
2 Portland McCaskill 1981-85 112 2,130
3 Jamierra Faulkner 2010-14 124 2,056
4 Patricia Nash 1992-96 118 1,875
5 Nancy Faulk 1977-81 103 1,696
6 Domonique Davis 2021-24 92 1,624
7 Nedra Hosey 1993-97 118 1,616
8 Pauline Love 2007-10 95 1,576
9 Kendra Reed 2005-09 126 1,537
10 Melyia Grayson 2020-25 129 1,522
Buckling the Sun Belt
Southern Miss is in its third season of Sun Belt Conference play after joining in 2022-23. With Southern Miss' addition to the league, the Sun Belt now spans 10 contiguous states from West Virginia to Texas. Six members of the league are within 400 miles of Hattiesburg with four less than a 300-mile drive away.
The Lady Eagles are 110-68 all-time against current Sun Belt teams and 43-36 all-time in conference play. Since 2022-23, Southern Miss is 27-21 in Sun Belt Conference games.
Joye Lee-McNelis is the league's longest tenured head coach and is the winningest active head coach in as well.
Leading Her Alma Mater
Joye Lee-McNelis is one of 40 active Division I head coaches currently leading their alma mater in women's basketball. She is one of 26 former women's basketball players currently leading the team she played for as well.
Three's Company
Southern Miss is on pace for a one of the program's best years behind the arc. The 2024-25 squad is making an average of 5.78 three-point baskets per game, making them just the second team in the program's history to average more than five three-pointers per game.
Southern Miss' current record average was 5.03 in 2007-08 while Southern Miss made its most three-point baskets in 2014-15 with 178 makes.
As another sign of the Lady Eagles' growth beyond the arc, the Lady Eagles made 10 three-point baskets for the second time this season against South Alabama. Southern Miss first hit the mark at Georgia State earlier this season. The 2024-25 season is the fifth in school history where the Lady Eagles made 10 three-point baskets in two consecutive games and the first since 2007-08.
#BurgBuilt
Fifth-year center Melyia Grayson is one of 45 players in Division I playing her fifth season at the one school. She entered the year already on the 1,000-point club's roster and has a chance to move into the top 10.
Against Texas State, she became the 11th player in program history to score at least 1,500 points as a Lady Eagle.
Grayson also has a chance to move up the charts in multiple categories. Against App State, Grayson played her 120th career game at Southern Miss and started her 103rd, moving her into the top 10 in both categories.
She is now third in games played (129) and tied-ninth in starts (112). She also ranks top 10 in rebounds (fifth), blocks (third), field goal percentage (seventh), field goals made (seventh) and double-doubles (ninth).
30 Piece
Grayson tied her career high of 32 points at ULM on Jan. 9, collecting 14 rebounds en route to her 24th career double-double and third this season.
The game also moved her from 14th on the all-time scoring charts to 13th, passing Tanya Bullock (1990-94). She is just eight points away from tying Wilhelmina Smith (1981-85) for 12th all-time.
The Tampa Two
Former high school teammates Nyla Jean and Morgan Sieper reunited at the Division I level last season in Hattiesburg with Jean transferring from Georgia State and Sieper signing out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.
The two won the 2021 FHSAA Class 7A State Title with the Plant Panthers where Jean was a senior and Sieper a sophomore. The two started together for the first time in their careers together on Dec. 21, 2023, at Florida Gulf Coast and last season's run in the Postseason WNIT was the first postseason action for the two since their 2021 state title run in Tampa.
The duo has scored in double-figures together in three games this season.
New Year, Newcomers
The 2024-25 season saw Southern Miss sign eight newcomers to their squad. Je'Mya Evans (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) and Samantha Shanks (Connors State) both signed from NJCAA while Bre Sutton transferred from Arkansas State after spending her first two seasons at ULM.
Five freshman – Micah Cooper, Jaime Gallatly, Whitney Hart, Trinity Rowe and Ava Shields – all inked their letters of intent with Southern Miss as well.
Welcome Back Bre
Bre Sutton made her return to the floor on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Marshall. The senior guard from New Orleans, La., left the Jan. 2 game against Old Dominion with an injury after just 3:50 on the court. Sutton had started in all 13 games for the Lady Eagles up to that point but missed the next six.
She played 10:41 off the bench at Marshall and, though she did not find the net, collected two rebounds in return to play. Against Texas State, she returned to the starting lineup to make her 14th start this season.
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 hosted 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.
The Lady Eagle Courtside Show with Jason Baker begins at 1:30 p.m. on the Southern Miss Sports Network with Kay James joining the broadcast for live coverage of the game. Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd will anchor the ESPN+ broadcast with in-app coverage beginning at 6 p.m.
Southern Miss will celebrate the careers of Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Nyla Jean (Tampa, Fla.) and Bre Sutton (New Orleans, La.) in a postgame senior day ceremony.
Game 24 // Southern Miss (8-15, 4-8 Sun Belt) vs. Ohio (4-17, 2-9 Mid-American)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
TV: ESPN+ // Lee Roberts (PxP) & Larry Boyd (Color)
Radio: Southern Miss Sports Network (92.7 FM) // Jason Baker (PxP) & Kay James (Color)
Reed Green Coliseum (8,095) // Hattiesburg, Miss.
About the Bobcats
The Bobcats enter round two of the MAC-SBC Challenge with a 4-17 overall record and 2-9 tally in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio has been victim to injuries this season and has greatly missed the absence of Jaya McClure, an All-MAC Preseason selection.
Head coach Bob Boldon is the program's winningest coach with his last victory marking his 200th in Athens. He holds a 298-247 career record in 18 overall seasons and is 200-159 in 12 seasons at Ohio.
Ohio is led in scoring by Kennedi Watkins' 15.2 points per game. Watkins also leads the team in field goal percentage with a 44.1 percent mark. Bailey Tabeling is the only other Bobcat to average double-figures on the year. Tabeling is also the team's leading in assists (53) and steals (40).
As a team, the Bobcats struggle in multiple categories. Their most-glaring stat line is their statistics on the glass. Out of 353 Division I teams, Ohio ranks 328th in rebounds and 350th in rebounding margin. The Bobcats average just 31.81 boards per game with a -11.5 margin.
The Ohio Series
Southern Miss and Ohio have met before at the 1984 Tennessee Tech University Classic in Cookeville, Tenn. The Lady Eagles – then the Lady Golden Eagles – won their season opener to advance to the Classic's championship game against host Tennessee Tech.
Against Ohio Teams
Southern Miss does not have much history with Ohio-based teams outside of 25 games played against Cincinnati as members of the Metro Conference and Conference USA. Outside of that, Southern Miss has played just seven games against six different Ohio programs including the first MAC-SBC Challenge game at Bowling Green.
At Reed Green Coliseum, Southern Miss is 8-4 against Ohio teams, last playing Akron in the 2023-24 MAC-SBC Challenge.
History in the Making
Melyia Grayson continues to etch her name in the Lady Eagle record books and made her way into the most prestigious group against Troy on Feb. 1. Her first basket of the game tied her with Joye Lee-McNelis, placing her in the top 10 in all-time points scored.
She is currently 15 points behind Kendra Reed (2005-09), who currently owns ninth place on the all-time charts.
Here is a list of Grayson's peers in this illustrious group of Lady Eagles:
Place Player Career Games Points
1 Janice Felder 1990-94 117 2,275
2 Portland McCaskill 1981-85 112 2,130
3 Jamierra Faulkner 2010-14 124 2,056
4 Patricia Nash 1992-96 118 1,875
5 Nancy Faulk 1977-81 103 1,696
6 Domonique Davis 2021-24 92 1,624
7 Nedra Hosey 1993-97 118 1,616
8 Pauline Love 2007-10 95 1,576
9 Kendra Reed 2005-09 126 1,537
10 Melyia Grayson 2020-25 129 1,522
Buckling the Sun Belt
Southern Miss is in its third season of Sun Belt Conference play after joining in 2022-23. With Southern Miss' addition to the league, the Sun Belt now spans 10 contiguous states from West Virginia to Texas. Six members of the league are within 400 miles of Hattiesburg with four less than a 300-mile drive away.
The Lady Eagles are 110-68 all-time against current Sun Belt teams and 43-36 all-time in conference play. Since 2022-23, Southern Miss is 27-21 in Sun Belt Conference games.
Joye Lee-McNelis is the league's longest tenured head coach and is the winningest active head coach in as well.
Leading Her Alma Mater
Joye Lee-McNelis is one of 40 active Division I head coaches currently leading their alma mater in women's basketball. She is one of 26 former women's basketball players currently leading the team she played for as well.
Three's Company
Southern Miss is on pace for a one of the program's best years behind the arc. The 2024-25 squad is making an average of 5.78 three-point baskets per game, making them just the second team in the program's history to average more than five three-pointers per game.
Southern Miss' current record average was 5.03 in 2007-08 while Southern Miss made its most three-point baskets in 2014-15 with 178 makes.
As another sign of the Lady Eagles' growth beyond the arc, the Lady Eagles made 10 three-point baskets for the second time this season against South Alabama. Southern Miss first hit the mark at Georgia State earlier this season. The 2024-25 season is the fifth in school history where the Lady Eagles made 10 three-point baskets in two consecutive games and the first since 2007-08.
#BurgBuilt
Fifth-year center Melyia Grayson is one of 45 players in Division I playing her fifth season at the one school. She entered the year already on the 1,000-point club's roster and has a chance to move into the top 10.
Against Texas State, she became the 11th player in program history to score at least 1,500 points as a Lady Eagle.
Grayson also has a chance to move up the charts in multiple categories. Against App State, Grayson played her 120th career game at Southern Miss and started her 103rd, moving her into the top 10 in both categories.
She is now third in games played (129) and tied-ninth in starts (112). She also ranks top 10 in rebounds (fifth), blocks (third), field goal percentage (seventh), field goals made (seventh) and double-doubles (ninth).
30 Piece
Grayson tied her career high of 32 points at ULM on Jan. 9, collecting 14 rebounds en route to her 24th career double-double and third this season.
The game also moved her from 14th on the all-time scoring charts to 13th, passing Tanya Bullock (1990-94). She is just eight points away from tying Wilhelmina Smith (1981-85) for 12th all-time.
The Tampa Two
Former high school teammates Nyla Jean and Morgan Sieper reunited at the Division I level last season in Hattiesburg with Jean transferring from Georgia State and Sieper signing out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.
The two won the 2021 FHSAA Class 7A State Title with the Plant Panthers where Jean was a senior and Sieper a sophomore. The two started together for the first time in their careers together on Dec. 21, 2023, at Florida Gulf Coast and last season's run in the Postseason WNIT was the first postseason action for the two since their 2021 state title run in Tampa.
The duo has scored in double-figures together in three games this season.
New Year, Newcomers
The 2024-25 season saw Southern Miss sign eight newcomers to their squad. Je'Mya Evans (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) and Samantha Shanks (Connors State) both signed from NJCAA while Bre Sutton transferred from Arkansas State after spending her first two seasons at ULM.
Five freshman – Micah Cooper, Jaime Gallatly, Whitney Hart, Trinity Rowe and Ava Shields – all inked their letters of intent with Southern Miss as well.
Welcome Back Bre
Bre Sutton made her return to the floor on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Marshall. The senior guard from New Orleans, La., left the Jan. 2 game against Old Dominion with an injury after just 3:50 on the court. Sutton had started in all 13 games for the Lady Eagles up to that point but missed the next six.
She played 10:41 off the bench at Marshall and, though she did not find the net, collected two rebounds in return to play. Against Texas State, she returned to the starting lineup to make her 14th start this season.
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 hosted 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
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMissy 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