The University of Southern Mississippi women’s basketball team opens its final stretch of the Sun Belt Conference schedule with a road game at Georgia Southern on Wednesday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET) at the Jack & Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center in Statesboro, Ga., according to the team.
The Lady Eagles (11-9, 4-5 Sun Belt) will face Georgia Southern (15-5, 8-2 Sun Belt), which opened its new arena in fall 2024. Southern Miss is 2-4 on the road this season and 1-2 in conference play. The game marks their first meeting at Georgia Southern’s new venue.
Southern Miss’s Jakayla Johnson leads the team with 13.5 points per game and is second in the Sun Belt with 18.6 points per game in league contests. Hayleigh Breland averages 12.7 points overall and has scored in double figures in every Sun Belt game this season. Other contributors include Meloney Thames and Carly Keats, both with double-figure scoring averages, and Whitney Hart, who has stepped in for injured Sakyia White and is averaging 7.5 points and 11.8 rebounds over her last four games.
The Lady Eagles aim to end a three-game losing streak and halt Georgia Southern’s streak of three consecutive wins over Southern Miss. The all-time series is tied 2-2, with Southern Miss winning the only previous game in Statesboro on Feb. 7, 2024.
Georgia Southern, led by second-year head coach Hana Haden, is tied for second in the conference standings and is just one game behind the league leader. The Eagles boast a 15-5 record overall and have lost only twice since Nov. 22. Their home record is 9-1, with the only loss coming against No. 5 LSU on Nov. 9. Destiny Garrett leads the team with 15.4 points and 88 assists, while Shanti Simmons averages 6.7 rebounds and 58 steals.
Fans can follow the game via ESPN+ or tune in on the Southern Miss Sports Network and 92.7 The Score in Hattiesburg. The Lady Eagles encourage supporters to purchase season tickets for $75 through their website and to stay updated on social media platforms for the latest news and schedule updates.
