HATTIESBURG, Miss. — ULM’s women’s basketball team handed Southern Miss a 85-62 loss Thursday at Reed Green Coliseum. The Warhawks (12-12, 6-8 Sun Belt) pulled away with a dominant second quarter and maintained their lead for the remainder of the game, ending Southern Miss’s home season.
Four Lady Eagles scored in double figures, led by Meloney Thames with 18 points. Thames has now led Southern Miss in scoring in two consecutive games. ULM’s Jazmine Jackson led all players with 22 points off the bench, making 6 of 9 shots beyond the arc. Five Warhawks players finished in double figures, including four starters.
Southern Miss opened the game with a quick 10-2 run and led 15-8 early. Whitney Hart scored seven points in the first four minutes, helping the Lady Eagles take the early advantage. However, ULM responded with a 13-5 run to take a 21-18 lead after the first quarter.
The Warhawks extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring Southern Miss 32-13 and taking a 53-31 halftime lead. ULM shot 54.1% in the first half, making seven three-pointers, while Southern Miss shot 37.9%. The Warhawks also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Lady Eagles 27-10.
ULM continued to push its lead after halftime, reaching a 65-41 margin at the third-quarter media break and 71-43 heading into the final period. Southern Miss made a run, cutting the deficit to 18 points with 6:28 remaining, but ULM responded to maintain a 20-point lead for the rest of the game.
In the second half, Carly Keats and Thames scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, but ULM outscored Southern Miss 32-31 in the last two quarters. The Warhawks shot 50% from the field overall, including 10 three-pointers, while the Lady Eagles shot 38.1% with five three-pointers.
ULM has now won six straight games against Southern Miss since Jan. 20, 2024. Despite the loss, Southern Miss leads the series 18-14. The Lady Eagles will finish their home schedule Saturday against Texas State, with a pregame senior ceremony set for 4:30 p.m.
The game is part of Southern Miss’s ‘Super Saturday’ event, featuring baseball, women’s basketball, and men’s basketball. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., and fans can follow the game via ESPN+ or listen live. Season tickets are available for $75 at smttt.info/WBBTix.
