University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, February 4
Reed Green Coliseum
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
James Madison
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Women’s Basketball Welcomes James Madison for National Women and Girls in Sports Day Game
2/3/2026 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss (12-10, 5-6 Sun Belt) returns home for one game of Sun Belt Conference action against James Madison (16-8, 8-4 Sun Belt). Southern Miss will also hold its annual National Women and Girls in Sports Day celebration throughout the game, honoring the countless women student-athletes, coaches and staff that wear the Black & Gold. Tipoff between the Lady Eagles and Dukes is set for 6 p.m. with broadcasts on ESPN+ and the Southern Miss Sports Network.
The Lady Eagles are back in Hattiesburg after a weather-shortened trip up the east coast. Southern Miss snapped a four-game losing streak with a near-miraculous 86-83 comeback victory in overtime over Old Dominion on Friday. Southern Miss trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, by nine points going into the fourth and by seven with two minutes to play.
Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.) led all scorers with a 30-point outburst, fueled by a 14-of-16 showing at the free throw line. She was one of three Lady Eagles to reach 20 points on the day, marking the first time Southern Miss has had three 20-point scorers in the same game since Feb. 19, 2014, when Jamierra Faulkner, Jerontay Clemons and Brittanny Dinkins scored 30, 26 and 24 points, respectively, in a 106-96 regulation win at FIU..
Johnson leads the Lady Eagles with 14.3 points per game. Hayleigh Breland (Wiggins, Miss.) and Carly Keats (Philadelphia, Miss.) were the other two 20-point scorers in the game, reaching 21 and 20 points, respectively. Breland's 12.8 points per game are second on the team with Keats' 11.7 points per game ranking fourth. Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) ranks third with 11.8 points per game as one of four active Lady Eagles averaging double-figures.
Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.) leads active Lady Eagles with 5.1 rebounds per game while Keats, Thames and Breland all have 50-or-more assists on the year with Keats pacing the group with 58.
The Lady Eagles will be looking for the first-ever win over James Madison in program history. The Dukes enter the week with a 16-8 overall record and 8-4 ledger in Sun Belt play. JMU finished 2-0 last week with wins over Louisiana and South Alabama in Harrisonburg. The Dukes have won five of their last six games after a rocky 3-3 start to conference play.
Peyton McDaniel, a true James Madison legend in the making, leads her Dukes with 18.3 points per game. Ashanti Barnes (14.5) and Bree Robinson (11.3) also average double-figure scoring on the year while Barnes leads the Dukes with 9.3 rebounds per game. James Madison has used the same starters in all 24 games this season with McDaniel, Barns and Robinson starting alongside Zakiya Stepehnson and Grace McDonough. Stephenson leads the group with 102 assists while Robinson ranks first on the team with 52 blocks.
The Dukes are led by 10th-year head coach Sean O'Regan with a 226-89 record in Harrisonburg. O'Regan has been a member of the Dukes staff for the past 19 seasons since returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2007.
Support Southern Miss Women's Basketball
Support Southern Miss women's basketball by purchasing your season tickets today 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 Lady Eagles are back in Hattiesburg after a weather-shortened trip up the east coast. Southern Miss snapped a four-game losing streak with a near-miraculous 86-83 comeback victory in overtime over Old Dominion on Friday. Southern Miss trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, by nine points going into the fourth and by seven with two minutes to play.
Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.) led all scorers with a 30-point outburst, fueled by a 14-of-16 showing at the free throw line. She was one of three Lady Eagles to reach 20 points on the day, marking the first time Southern Miss has had three 20-point scorers in the same game since Feb. 19, 2014, when Jamierra Faulkner, Jerontay Clemons and Brittanny Dinkins scored 30, 26 and 24 points, respectively, in a 106-96 regulation win at FIU..
Johnson leads the Lady Eagles with 14.3 points per game. Hayleigh Breland (Wiggins, Miss.) and Carly Keats (Philadelphia, Miss.) were the other two 20-point scorers in the game, reaching 21 and 20 points, respectively. Breland's 12.8 points per game are second on the team with Keats' 11.7 points per game ranking fourth. Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) ranks third with 11.8 points per game as one of four active Lady Eagles averaging double-figures.
Whitney Hart (Baton Rouge, La.) leads active Lady Eagles with 5.1 rebounds per game while Keats, Thames and Breland all have 50-or-more assists on the year with Keats pacing the group with 58.
The Lady Eagles will be looking for the first-ever win over James Madison in program history. The Dukes enter the week with a 16-8 overall record and 8-4 ledger in Sun Belt play. JMU finished 2-0 last week with wins over Louisiana and South Alabama in Harrisonburg. The Dukes have won five of their last six games after a rocky 3-3 start to conference play.
Peyton McDaniel, a true James Madison legend in the making, leads her Dukes with 18.3 points per game. Ashanti Barnes (14.5) and Bree Robinson (11.3) also average double-figure scoring on the year while Barnes leads the Dukes with 9.3 rebounds per game. James Madison has used the same starters in all 24 games this season with McDaniel, Barns and Robinson starting alongside Zakiya Stepehnson and Grace McDonough. Stephenson leads the group with 102 assists while Robinson ranks first on the team with 52 blocks.
The Dukes are led by 10th-year head coach Sean O'Regan with a 226-89 record in Harrisonburg. O'Regan has been a member of the Dukes staff for the past 19 seasons since returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2007.
Support Southern Miss Women's Basketball
Support Southern Miss women's basketball by purchasing your season tickets today 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
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
PG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Jan. 22 vs. Marshall
Friday, January 23
Women's Basketball Condensed Game - 1/1/2026 vs. Troy
Saturday, January 03
Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Jan. 3 vs. Troy
Saturday, January 03
Game Highlights - Southern Miss vs. UAB
Monday, December 08