University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Narcisse Earns Preseason All-Sun Belt Honors, Lady Eagles Picked Tied for Seventh
10/19/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Chrysta Narcisse was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team, while Southern Miss was voted seventh in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
"The Sun Belt is a tough, highly competitive league, and we know every night will be a battle," said head coach Missy Bilderback. "I'm excited about the talent, grit, and toughness of this group. We're building a team that will compete with consistency, play with an edge, and represent Southern Miss the right way," said coach Bilderback.
Narcisse joined the Lady Eagles after spending three seasons at South Alabama, where she made 59 appearances and 43 starts for the Jaguars. Last year, the Lafayette, La. native played in 35 games, averaging 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while chipping in 81 assists and 38 steals. Narcisse hit 42.1 percent of her shots from the field and 35.9 percent from three and went 67-of-87 from the foul line.
"Chrysta proved herself in league play and was exceptional in the conference tournament," said coach Bilderback. "We have high expectations for her this season, and I believe she has the ability to be one of the top players in our league."
The Lafayette High School product capped off her 2025-26 season, earning Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team honors and helping the Jaguars reach the quarterfinals, with 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game across five contests. Narcisse exploded for 24 points against Coastal Carolina in the second round on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, while pulling down six rebounds.
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina [R-Jr. | F | Dublin, Ohio]
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech [3rd | F | Little Rock, Ark.]
Daisia Mitchell, App State [Sr. | G | Riverside, Calif.]
Bree Robinson, James Madison [4th | G | Mississauga, Ontario]
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana [So. | F | Gramercy, La.]
Aniya Hubbard, Troy [5th | G | Hoover, Ala.]
Olivia Olson, Marshall [So. | G | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.]
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison [4th | G | Virginia Beach, Va.]
Joi Williams, App State [Sr. | G | Leesburg, Va.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern [2nd | F | Woodstock, Ga.]
Grace McDonough, James Madison [2nd | F | Harleysville, Pa.]
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss [R-Jr. | G | Lafayette, La.]
Riley Stack, Old Dominion [4th | F | Piedmont, S.C.]
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech [4th | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. James Madison – 189 (11)
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State – 165 (1)
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech – 148 (1)
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. Louisiana – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
The Southern Miss Lady Eagles get the season underway on Tuesday, Oct. 27, when they host East Texas Baptist for an exhibition game in Reed Green Coliseum at 6 p.m.
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 SouthernMiss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
"The Sun Belt is a tough, highly competitive league, and we know every night will be a battle," said head coach Missy Bilderback. "I'm excited about the talent, grit, and toughness of this group. We're building a team that will compete with consistency, play with an edge, and represent Southern Miss the right way," said coach Bilderback.
Narcisse joined the Lady Eagles after spending three seasons at South Alabama, where she made 59 appearances and 43 starts for the Jaguars. Last year, the Lafayette, La. native played in 35 games, averaging 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while chipping in 81 assists and 38 steals. Narcisse hit 42.1 percent of her shots from the field and 35.9 percent from three and went 67-of-87 from the foul line.
"Chrysta proved herself in league play and was exceptional in the conference tournament," said coach Bilderback. "We have high expectations for her this season, and I believe she has the ability to be one of the top players in our league."
The Lafayette High School product capped off her 2025-26 season, earning Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team honors and helping the Jaguars reach the quarterfinals, with 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game across five contests. Narcisse exploded for 24 points against Coastal Carolina in the second round on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, while pulling down six rebounds.
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina [R-Jr. | F | Dublin, Ohio]
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech [3rd | F | Little Rock, Ark.]
Daisia Mitchell, App State [Sr. | G | Riverside, Calif.]
Bree Robinson, James Madison [4th | G | Mississauga, Ontario]
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana [So. | F | Gramercy, La.]
Aniya Hubbard, Troy [5th | G | Hoover, Ala.]
Olivia Olson, Marshall [So. | G | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.]
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison [4th | G | Virginia Beach, Va.]
Joi Williams, App State [Sr. | G | Leesburg, Va.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern [2nd | F | Woodstock, Ga.]
Grace McDonough, James Madison [2nd | F | Harleysville, Pa.]
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss [R-Jr. | G | Lafayette, La.]
Riley Stack, Old Dominion [4th | F | Piedmont, S.C.]
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech [4th | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. James Madison – 189 (11)
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State – 165 (1)
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech – 148 (1)
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. Louisiana – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
The Southern Miss Lady Eagles get the season underway on Tuesday, Oct. 27, when they host East Texas Baptist for an exhibition game in Reed Green Coliseum at 6 p.m.
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 SouthernMiss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
Players Mentioned
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