HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for a late-season push will meet Thursday when the Southern Mississippi Lady Eagles host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Reed Green Coliseum. Both teams enter with identical 5-7 records in Sun Belt Conference play and are hovering near .500 overall. Southern Mississippi (12-12) looks to snap a two-game skid, while Louisiana-Monroe (11-12) aims to build on a two-game winning streak. The Warhawks are coming off a 73-64 road victory at Buffalo on Feb. 7, where Jazmine Jackson led the way with 19 points. ULM has shown offensive firepower, averaging 78 points in its last three wins. A key catalyst is Marcavia Shavers, a consistent force who has scored in double figures in six of her last eight games, including an 18-point, 13-rebound performance against Marshall on Jan. 23. Southern Mississippi fell 76-67 at Toledo in its last outing despite a 25-point effort from Meloney Thames. The Lady Eagles have struggled for consistency, alternating wins and losses over their past six games. Forward Whitney Hart provides a reliable interior presence, nearly posting a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds against Toledo and recording a 17-point, 14-rebound game at Arkansas State on Jan. 17. The matchup inside between Shavers and Hart could be pivotal. Both teams have shown vulnerability on defense, setting the stage for a potentially high-scoring contest. ULM won the season’s first meeting 89-78 on Jan. 31, 2025, but these programs have not faced each other this season. With the conference tournament on the horizon, Thursday’s game represents a critical opportunity for both squads to gain ground and secure a winning record. The rematch is scheduled for Feb. 27 in Monroe, Louisiana. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CST.