HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — The Southern Mississippi Lady Eagles used a dominant second-quarter surge to remain undefeated, overpowering the Nicholls State Colonels 86-60 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum.

Carly Keats led all scorers with 23 points as Southern Mississippi improved to 6-0. Nicholls State, led by 19 points from Marie Kenembeni, fell to an even 3-3 on the season.

The game was a contest of runs, with the Lady Eagles seizing control in a decisive second period. After a competitive first quarter that ended with Southern Mississippi holding a 17-9 advantage, the home team erupted for 32 points in the second quarter. This offensive explosion, fueled by a 12-2 run midway through the period, stretched their lead to 49-31 by halftime. The Colonels could not recover from the 26-point deficit.

Southern Mississippi’s efficiency was a key factor in the victory. The Lady Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and a sharp 40 percent from three-point range, connecting on 12 of 30 attempts. They also capitalized on Nicholls State’s mistakes, scoring 24 points off 23 Colonel turnovers.

The Lady Eagles’ defense was equally impactful, recording 11 steals and forcing numerous rushed possessions from Nicholls State. The Colonels struggled offensively, shooting 38 percent from the floor and just 29 percent from beyond the arc. They were also hampered by 58 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Keats, a 5-foot-7 guard from Philadelphia, Mississippi, added three rebounds and three assists to her game-high point total in 29 minutes of action. She was complemented by Meloney Thames, who posted 12 points and eight rebounds, and Sakyia White, who also scored 12 points.

For the Colonels, Kenembeni, from Yaounde, Cameroon, provided a bright spot with her 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jesslynn Jalomo added 10 points and five assists, while Emani Burks anchored the defense with four blocks.

Southern Mississippi also dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end where they secured 18 rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance opportunities. Nicholls State managed only six offensive rebounds.

The Lady Eagles maintained their comfortable lead throughout the second half, outscoring the Colonels in the third quarter and matching them in the fourth to close out the 26-point victory.

A crowd of 3,121 watched the game at Reed Green Coliseum.

Southern Mississippi will look to extend its perfect start next when it travels to Cancún, Mexico, to face UAB on Thursday. Nicholls State returns to action on Dec. 16 to host Incarnate Word.