HATTIESBURG (AP) — On a sleepy Saturday in December, Southern Miss’ women’s basketball team notched a thrilling finish and one of the program’s biggest regular-season wins of the 21st century.

Domonique Davis scored 25 points, including a critical acrobatic layup with 15 seconds to play, Nyla Jean created a steal as time ran out, and Southern Miss upset No. 19 Ole Miss 61-59 on Saturday.

Not only was it a noteworthy win against an in-state rival from the Southeastern Conference, it was Southern Miss’ first against a Top 25 opponent since February 2000. Joye Lee-McNelis, in her 20th season as USM’s coach, earned her first win against a ranked team in 16 tries.

“Those are moments I’ve been living for my whole life,” Davis said. “I was one of those kids that when we went outside, I wanted to count down from 5, 4, you know. Those are moments you live for. The second half was kind of tough for me, I was dealing with some cramping. Regardless, I wanted to get that win so bad. I wanted to be out there so bad. When that time came, I felt like at that point in the game I was able to get to the rim when I wanted to, that’s where I was going. I didn’t want to settle for a jumper. I wanted it bad. I wanted it more than they wanted to get a stop.”

DOM. DAVIS. pic.twitter.com/hMlW1sobMn

— Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball (@SouthernMissWBB) December 2, 2023

After Davis put the Golden Eagles up 60-57 and left with an injury on the play, Marquesha Davis scored on a putback for the Rebels at 7.4 seconds.

Jean scored her only point of the game when she was fouled with 5.6 seconds to go, then she knocked the ball away from Kennedy Todd-Williams who was maneuvering in the lane trying to get free for a tying shot attempt.

Morgan Sieper added 12 points for Southern Miss (7-0), which is off to its best start since the 2003-04 season.

“At halftime, we talked about that we have to have a good third quarter,” Sieper said. “That huddle after we were down 10 or 11, we decided that we were going to win that game. As a staff and as a team, we were going to put everything on the line. I don’t know if it was a media timeout or what, but we came together and all kind of felt a sense that we were going to win this game by any means necessary.”

 

Marquesha Davis scored 15 points for the Rebels (6-3), who played their first true road game of the season. Snudda Collins added 14 points.
Kharyssa Richardson converted a three-point play early in the fourth quarter to give Ole MIss a 52-46 lead, but five players scored for the Golden Eagles in a 10-0 run for a 56-52 lead with 3:36 to play. The Rebels, who shot 4-of-17 in the fourth quarter, never caught up.

Ole Miss plays Mississippi Valley State at home on Dec. 12. Southern Miss goes to Memphis on Dec. 10.