Lady Eagles Fall 81-71 at Arkansas State

Saturday, January 17

Jonesboro, Ark. / First National Bank Arena

2 p.m.

Southern Miss

11-7,4-3Sun Belt

Arkansas State

16-4,7-1Sun Belt

Southern Miss.

Arkansas St.

Whitney Hart eyes the basket against William Carey

Lady Eagles Fall 81-71 at Arkansas State

1/17/2026 4:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book

JONESBORO, Ark. – Southern Miss women's basketball fell to Arkansas State (16-4, 7-1 Sun Belt) for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon at First National Bank Arena by a final score of 81-71. The Lady Eagles (11-7, 4-3 Sun Belt) placed four starters in double-figures but were unable to overcome 26 turnovers which the Red Wolves turned into 29 points.

Redshirt freshman Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.) enjoyed a breakout performance with 17 points and 14 rebounds for her first career double-double in her second career start. She and Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) led the Lady Eagles with 17 points. Zyion Shannon led the Red Wolves with 26 points as one of three double-figure scorers.

Arkansas State took the game's opening tip but were unable to score as the two teams traded scoreless possessions in the early minutes of play. Wynter Rogers placed the Red Wolves on the board first before Thames tied it at the free throw line. Another basket by ASU gave them the lead, which was quickly erased and overcome by the Lady Eagles as Hart sparked a 10-0 run for Southern Miss.

A basket by Hayleigh Breland moved the score to 12-5 and forced Arkansas State to use its first timeout with 5:12 left in the frame. Arkansas State responded and outscored Southern Miss in the rest of the frame, 11-8, holding Southern Miss without a basket for over three minutes. The Lady Eagles made just one basket in the back half of the first quarter but clung on to a 20-16 lead at the break.

Southern Miss pushed the lead to six, but a Red Wolf run set up Bella Weary to grab the lead, 25-24, with 5:51 left in the half. Hart scored to take the lead back but Arkansas State tied it once more with two minutes to go in the first half. A-State took a 36-32 lead into the locker rooms with Shannon holding 14 points already at the break.

The Red Wolves forced 13 Southern Miss turnovers in the first half but Southern Miss was able to force the Red Wolves into nine of their own. The Lady Eagles made just one three-point attempt in the first while Arkansas State connected on four.

Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.) held just two points at half time but exploded for 12 second half points to lead the charge on and off the floor for Southern Miss. She brought the game within two before Breland tied it at 36-all one minute into the third quarter.

Shannon responded with a three-pointer that sparked another run of 9-0 for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves forced five total turnovers and ran the score up to 45-36 before Thames stopped it at the free throw line. The two teams fought back-and-forth in the period with Southern Miss coming within four points of the lead on multiple occasions. ASU took a 64-54 lead into the final quarter looking to seal the win.

Johnson scored Southern Miss' first six points of the fourth quarter, bringing the lead within six before brought it back to 10. Slowly but surely, Southern Miss forced ASU into missed shots and chipped away at the lead. Thames brought Southern Miss within three points with 3:23 to play and a Johnson fast break make made it a two-point margin.

The Red Wolves clawed their way back, largely thanks to Shannon's steady hand at the free throw line. Southern Miss fouled her five times in the fourth quarter and she hit seven of her eight free throw attempts to close out the game and give ASU the win.

Johnson finished with 12 second half points for 14 total while Thames and Hart each added 17. Breland finished with 15 points to round out the quartet of scorers. Arkansas State scored 29 points off of 26 Southern Miss turnovers while Southern Miss turned 16 ASU giveaways into 18 points.

Up Next
Southern Miss returns home for a two-game stay beginning on Thursday, Jan. 22, against Marshall. Tipoff between the Lady Eagles and Thundering Herd is set for 6 p.m. as Southern Miss welcomes back its students with deals and giveaways at Reed Green Coliseum.

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