JACKSON – With both the Millsaps Majors and the Rhodes Lynx coming in with identical 10-3 records in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, something had to give for second place in the Eastern Division. Millsaps used outstanding defense and a 9-2 run towards the end of the game to defeat the Lynx 55-47 and take control of second place on Senior Night.
 
Rhodes got the game started with a layup from Lauren Avant, but senior Janice Okeke responded instantly with a layup of her own to tie the game early on. After free throws tied the game at five, Millsaps scored the next five points thanks jumpers from freshman Velvet Johnson and Brittnei Earl and a free throw from junior Shante Morton.
 
Millsaps got its lead to 12-7, but the Lynx responded with five straight points of their own to tie it back at 12. Both teams traded buckets back and forth before Rhodes took the lead and pushed it to a game high six with 1:20 remaining.
 
The Majors got a bucket from junior Lovie Love with four seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 26-22 going into break.
 
Millsaps wasted little time to regain the lead early in the second half. After a free throw a piece by Johnson and Okeke, Johnson connected with a three to give Millsaps a 28-26 lead.
 
Shortly after, Rhodes responded with four straight points from Avant, before Love countered with a three of her own to put Millsaps back in front again.
 
After a layup by Morton, Rhodes tied the game back up thanks to a three ball from Dy'Nelle Todman and took the lead after a layup by Avant.
 
Millsaps came back with a layup from Okeke and another shot from downtown from Love, but again Rhodes responded to take a 39-38 lead with 8:12 remaining.
 
Morton then came back and made a huge three pointer to give the Majors a 41-39 lead and was followed up by another three pointer from Johnson.
 
The game began to slip away from Rhodes as the Major defense continued to force turnovers as they had 15 on the night while only turning it over nine times.
 
A layup from Johnson with 1:16 remaining brought the score to 50-43 and had The Hangar Dome rocking as they could sense the win coming.
 
Sophomore Shatoya White couldn't of picked a better time to get in the scoring column as she hit four free throws to go along with one from Johnson to close out the Lynx, 55-47.
 
Johnson led the way scoring with a game-high 20 points while Love added 10. Okeke was terrific on her senior night as she went for 11 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in what truly was a fitting way to go out at home. Avant led the way with 12 points while Bell added 10.
 
The Majors improve to 19-4 overall and 11-3 in the SCAC. They have not yet clinched the No. 2 seed in the SCAC and still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the East after Centre was upset by Birmingham-Southern on Friday night.
 
Millsaps will get another shot at those Colonels as they head up to Danville, Kentucky on Friday to take on Centre. A win will guarantee the Majors, at the very least, a No. 2 seed. The Colonels escaped Jackson with a 66-61 victory way back on December 2nd. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in the Eastern Time Zone.