STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — Kishyah Anderson scored a game-high 31 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:42 remaining, and Kayla Cleaveland sank a critical 3-pointer with eight seconds left as Georgia Southern held off a furious second-half rally to defeat Southern Mississippi 70-67 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the final minute with the score tied at 67. After a Georgia Southern timeout with 33 seconds remaining, the Eagles worked the ball to Anderson, who drew a double-team near the elbow. She dished to a wide-open Cleaveland in the left corner, who calmly sank the 3-pointer to put the home team ahead for good at 70-67.

Southern Mississippi’s final attempt to tie, a contested 3-pointer from the top of the key by Meloney Thames as time expired, missed off the rim, securing the victory for Georgia Southern before a crowd of 1,232.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves. Georgia Southern, improving to 15-5, dominated the opening 20 minutes with efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Eagles built a 41-25 lead by halftime, fueled by Anderson’s 18 first-half points. Southern Mississippi struggled mightily from the field in the second quarter, scoring only nine points as Georgia Southern stretched its advantage.

The complexion of the game changed entirely after the break. The visiting Lady Eagles, now 11-10, emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, spearheaded by the scoring of Carly Keats. After being held to just four points in the first half, Keats erupted for 17 in the second half, consistently hitting difficult shots to fuel the comeback.

Southern Mississippi’s defense also stiffened, holding Georgia Southern to just 10 points in the third quarter. A 17-3 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, capped by a Keats 3-pointer, brought the Lady Eagles all the way back to tie the game at 50 with 8:56 remaining.

From there, the game became a tense back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes and five ties in the final quarter. Neither team led by more than three points over the last eight minutes.

Anderson was the steadying force for Georgia Southern throughout the frantic final period. She answered nearly every Southern Mississippi basket, scoring 11 points in the quarter. Her driving layup with 1:42 left gave the Eagles a 67-65 lead, and after Jakayla Johnson tied it for Southern Mississippi with two free throws, Anderson created the play that led to Cleaveland’s decisive shot.

Keats led Southern Mississippi with 21 points, all but four coming in the second half. Johnson added 13 points for the Lady Eagles, while Thames finished with 12 points and three assists in a full 40 minutes of action.

For Georgia Southern, Destiny Garrett provided crucial support with 16 points, while McKenna Eddings contributed five points, five assists and a key block in the final minutes. Lia Anderson added eight points and two blocks for the Eagles.

The loss extended Southern Mississippi’s skid to three games, while Georgia Southern rebounded from a road loss to James Madison in its previous outing. The Eagles’ victory aligned with statistical projections that heavily favored the home team.

Southern Mississippi next travels to face Old Dominion on Saturday. Georgia Southern remains at home to host Arkansas State, also on Saturday.