Southern Miss grinds out 61-49 win over Valparaiso

Story from USM Athletics:
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles remain undefeated after a 61-49 win over Valparaiso at Reed Green Coliseum after surviving a cold second quarter. Southern Miss shot a season-low 37.0 percent but was able to hold the Beacons to 27.3 percent from the floor.

Southern Miss (4-0) once again jumped out to a quick lead, hitting the first shot of the day with 9:43 on the clock. After the first 10 minutes, the Lady Eagles led 21-8 over Valparaiso (0-3). With 8:39 left in the second quarter, Southern Miss had pushed the score to 25-9. However, Melyia Grayson’s (Hattiesburg, Miss.) layup to take the 16-point margin proved to be the Lady Eagles’ last of the half. The Lady Eagles went 0-of-9 from the floor over the next 8:43 until Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.) broke through 13 seconds into the second half.

Once they woke up in the third quarter, the Lady Eagles put up another 20-point frame and had their biggest lead of the day of 14 points. Davis had nine points in the third quarter alone.

Another back-and-forth quarter ensued in the final 10 minutes of play, but Southern Miss answered every one of Valparaiso’s shots. Three Lady Eagles finished with double-figure scoring, led by Davis’ 15 and followed by Noelani Cornfield (Gowanda, N.Y.) and Jacorriah Bracey (Drew, Miss.), who each had 11.

Bracey led the Lady Eagles on the glass as well, collecting 11 for the second career double-double of her career and first of the season.

UP NEXT
Southern Miss is back in action on Friday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. for the first game of the 36th Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. The Lady Eagles open against North Dakota and close out the tournament against Samford on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 4 p.m.