Keats scores career-high 26 points as Southern Miss beats Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Carly Keats scored a career-high 26 points, highlighted by eight three-pointers, to lead Southern Miss to an 83-61 win over Louisiana at the Cajundome on Wednesday night. The senior guard from Philadelphia, Miss., also set personal bests for points and three-pointers made in the game, according to the university.

Keats fueled a strong offensive effort for the Lady Eagles, who improved to 14-13 overall and 7-8 in Sun Belt Conference play. She was one of 10 Southern Miss players to score at least two points. The Lady Eagles used a late 19-3 run in the fourth quarter to pull away, securing back-to-back conference victories.

Southern Miss jumped out to an early lead, with Hayleigh Breland scoring the first basket. Louisiana briefly took its only lead of the game with a three-pointer before Keats responded with her first three of the night, giving the Lady Eagles a 5-3 advantage two minutes into the game.

The visitors extended their lead in the first quarter, which ended with Southern Miss ahead 30-17. Keats scored 17 points in the first half, including five three-pointers, helping the Lady Eagles maintain a 44-33 lead at halftime. The team shot 7-of-15 beyond the arc in the first half.

Louisiana cut into the lead in the third quarter, but Southern Miss maintained a double-digit advantage entering the final period. The Lady Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cajuns 24-10. Keats added nine more points in the final quarter, while Meloney Thames led all scorers for Southern Miss with 13 points after halftime.

Southern Miss is set to face Troy in the second game of their season series Saturday at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama, with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m. local time, according to the university.

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