MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team (5-9, 1-2) will remain at home for the third in a four-game homestand. The Warhawks will face the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (5-9, 1-2) at 3 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 9) in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks and the Golden Eagles are both looking to gain their second Sun Belt win.

SERIES HISTORY –

The Warhawks and the Golden Eagles will be competing for the 30th time in the series, the third in a row at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM is looking for its fourth-straight win over Southern Miss in the series spanning over 45 years. The first matchup between ULM and Southern Miss was on Nov. 17, 1978 in Monroe, with the Warhawks coming out on top, 88-82. The Golden Eagles faced the Warhawks three times last season, twice in the regular season and in Monroe for the WNIT. ULM won all three contests in the 2023-24 season, most notably the WNIT to send the Warhawks on the best postseason run since 1985.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES –

The Golden Eagles are looking to break their two-game losing streak, falling to Old Dominion and App State in Sun Belt play. The team did, however, mark notable wins over Memphis and Georgia State. Melyia Grayson leads the team in points per game (13.7), ranking fifth in the Sun Belt in scoring and first in field goal percentage (.549). Grayson returned for a fifth year and was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team. Freshman Trinity Rowe dropped 25 points in the conference opener against Georgia State, firing seven three-pointers. Rowe was awarded Sun Belt Player of the Week for the stand-out performance. The Monarchs are looking to surpass preseason expectations, as they were selected to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll after a 20-14 record last season, making it to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Championships before falling to James Madison and advancing to the WNIT Super 16 before falling to ULM. 

LEADING THE TEAM –

Jakayla Johnson tallied 10 points, three rebounds and six assists versus Old Dominion (Jan. 4). She leads the team in points per game (14.1), field goals made (74) and steals (25). Johnson is also fourth in the Sun Belt in points per game. Sakyia White opened the season going 9-9 vs. Central Baptist (Nov. 4), dropping 18 points. She then followed up with a 16-rebound performance vs. Tulane (Dec. 21), leading the team in rebounds per game (7.6). 

RAINING TRIPLES –

Meloney Thames dropped 22 points against Georgia Southern (Jan. 2), shooting five three-pointers, a team-high this season. The last time a Warhawk hit five triples prior to Thames was Jakayla Johnson versus Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Tournament last season. Just two days later, Nya Valentine hit five shots beyond the arc against Old Dominion, three coming in the final 30 seconds of the game. 

DOUBLE DOUBLE–

Laila Walker logged the team's first double-double of the season against Louisiana Christian (Nov. 11), posting 10 points and 11 rebounds. The achievement was also Walker's first career double-double. Sakyia White and Katlyn Manuel followed closely behind, credited with the team's second and third double-doubles of the season. The most recent double-double achieved by a Warhawk was Jakayla Johnson, who recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds versus Georgia Southern (Jan. 2).

PRESEASON HONORS –

Jakayla Johnson was named All-Sun Belt First Team after receiving multiple honors at the conclusion of last season. She was the second leading scorer on the Warhawks, averaging 15.2 points per game. She reached the 30-point mark in two games last season as well. This is ULM's first player to be named to the All-Sun Belt First Team since 2006, when the Warhawks joined the conference.

Katlyn Manuel, the conference's reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, was named All-Sun Belt Third Team to open the 2024-25 season. In her third year with the Warhawks, Manuel averaged 10.2 points/game, racking up three double-doubles. She also led the team with 30 blocks on the season, averaging 1.0 per game.

FOURTH-PLACE PICK –

The Warhawks started the preseason strong, being selected fourth in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, receiving 150 votes. This is the highest ULM women's basketball has been ranked in the SBC preseason poll since joining the conference in 2006.

FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –

Thursday's game will be available on KRJO 1680 AM with Adam Holland on the call. Streaming will be available for games on ESPN+ with Sean Fox and Mike Vining. Links to live stats for all games, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com. Navigate to the women's basketball schedule page and select that day's opponent.

LOOKING AHEAD –

The women's basketball team will remain at home to complete the four-game Sun Belt homestay. ULM will face Arkansas State in Monroe on Saturday (Jan. 11). The Warhawks and the Red Wolves will tip off at 2 p.m. CT in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.