Coach Winkelman Interview
Morton Interview
Homewood, Ala. – The Millsaps Majors Women's Basketball Team continued their historic season by picking up their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament win with a gritty performance over Trinity, 65-55. Senior Janice Okeke broke the SCAC Tournament rebounding record with 21 rebounds on Friday night while junior Shante Morton added her 14th double-dobule of the season with 23 points and 16 rebounds..
Things did not start out well for the Majors as Trinity used the first ten minutes of the half to go on top 18-7 thanks to four three pointers including two for the SCAC points leader, Murphy Burns.
Millsaps slowly got back into the game thanks to stout defense as they forced two turnovers, which led to fastbreak layups by junior Lovie Love. The Majors then completed the comeback and tied the game at 18 after good layups from junior Shante Morton.
Trinity responded with a three pointer from Murphy followed by a layup by Anne Waldelich to go back up five. The two teams traded baskets before Millsaps finally connected on its first three pointer of the half (1-of-11 in the first half) as freshman Velvet Johnson cut the deficit to two.
Freshman Natasha Mbenza drew a foul with 54 seconds remaining in the half and connected on two free throws to send the game into half, tied at 25.
The Tigers started the second half like they started the first half with Murphy three pointers to go up 28-25. Millsaps responded with a jumper from freshman Velvet Johnson to cut it down to one and then Morton converted on two free throws to give the Majors their first lead of the game at 29-28.
Burns responded with a layup to put Trinity back in front, before Millsaps went on a quick 6-0 run thanks to five points by Johnson and a free throw from Morton due to a technical foul.
The Tigers did not go away and their star freshman, Hannah Coley, got going with a three pointers followed by a three point play to put Trinity back on top by one.
The two teams exchanged baskets before Millsaps got to the free throw line, drawing multiple fouls on Trinity and extending their lead to 43-38.
Coley responded with a three pointer before hitting another one after a Morton jumper as Millsaps hung on to a 45-44 lead.
Everytime Trinity came within taking the lead; Millsaps hit a big shot as Love came through to push the lead back to three. After the Tigers responded with two free throws, Johnson hit the big jumper this time, to put Millsaps in front 49-46. Trinity again brought it down to one, but Morton hit a huge three to go back up four.
With 4:02 remaining, Trinity was down 54-51 as Millsaps held possession and the Majors found Morton who hit a mid range jumper to go ahead by five.
Morton then put the dagger in the Tigers hearts with 2:48 remaining as she hit a monster three to put the Majors up 59-51.
Then Johnson forced a turnover and Love ahead to bring the game to a 10-point lead. Millsaps finished things off with free throws as they took the 65-55 win.
Morton led the way with 23 points and 16 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season. Okeke set the SCAC Tournament record with 21 rebounds, which is also a career high for her. She also added eight points, four steals, and three blocks on the night. Johnson also picked up 13 points.
The Majors absolutely owned the boards on Friday night as they out rebounded Trinity 56-35. Okeke and Morton out rebounded the entire Tiger team by themselves with 37 total rebounds to 35.
The Majors improve to 21-5 overall and move on to the semifianls of the SCAC Tournament as they take on the No. 1 seed in the West, the Southwestern Pirates, at 7 p.m. at Bill Battle Coliseum on the campus of Birmingham-Southern.
