HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss women’s basketball continues a three-game road swing with a trip to San Marcos, Texas, to face Texas State on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. at Strahan Arena at the University Events Center, with coverage available via ESPN+ and the Lady Eagles’ pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m., according to university officials.
The Lady Eagles (10-6, 3-2 Sun Belt) are seeking their first road conference victory of the season. They aim to avoid consecutive losses in Sun Belt play after falling 82-59 at Appalachian State on Jan. 10, their first league road loss of the year.
Jakayla Johnson led Southern Miss with 23 points in the previous game. She is one of three players in Division I to score 20 or more points in five straight conference games this season, according to university sources. Hayleigh Breland added 10 points, marking her seventh straight game with double figures.
Southern Miss’s starting five averages double-figures in points, making them one of five Division I teams with such a lineup, according to university statistics. Johnson leads the team with 13.9 points per game overall and 23.8 in Sun Belt games, the highest in the league. Other key contributors include Breland, Thames, White, and Keats, who also handles team-best assists with 48.
Texas State (7-8, 3-2 Sun Belt) enters the matchup with a roster featuring nine or more newcomers, including transfers and high school signees, after losing 11 players from last season. Sophomore guard Saniya Burks leads the team with 14.6 points per game, while Kyra Anderson contributes 11.0 assists per game and averages 7.9 rebounds.
Since their first meeting on Jan. 28, 2023, the series stands 4-3 in favor of Texas State. The Bobcats won all three meetings that season, including an 85-57 victory in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals. Southern Miss responded with three consecutive wins before Texas State reclaimed the series lead with a 62-55 victory on Feb. 22, 2025.
First-year head coach Missy Bilderback has a 2-2 record against Texas State, with all meetings occurring at ULM. Texas State’s Zenarae Antoine holds a 4-3 record against Southern Miss all-time.
Fans are encouraged to support Southern Miss women’s basketball by purchasing season tickets for $75 at smttt.info/WBBTix. Updates and game information are available on the team’s social media channels and at SouthernMiss.com.
