BIRMINGHAM- The Millsaps Majors women's basketball team had four starters in double figures but fell 74-70 to Birmingham Southern on Sunday in the first conference game for both teams. 

This game was a tight contest between the rivals from the opening tip. Neither team was able to get much momentum or run going in the first half. BSC held the half's biggest lead at five points but was quickly erased by the Majors. Kala-Jewel Freeman got off to a red hot start for Millsaps in the first half, recording a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Foul trouble would limit the talented freshman in the second half as she finished with 13 points and those 12 rebounds before fouling out. Sam Perez, who along with Velvet Johnson played all forty minutes, scored six of the Majors' final eight points of the half including a lay-in with six seconds remaining to make it 32-31 Panthers at the break. 

Johnson, who was held scoreless in the first half, hit a three in the opening minutes of the second half to give the Majors a 40-32 lead. BSC answered with a run of their own to tie the game at 40 and the teams began trading baskets and leads. Midway through the half, Johnson scored nine straight points for the Majors as Millsaps refused to go away after spurts by the Panthers gave them five and seven points leads. 

Despite Johnson and the Majors' efforts, the Panthers kept a two-possession lead into the final minutes of the game. BSC tried to salt away the game at the foul line but the Majors would respond. A three by Kelli Randle kept the Majors in striking distance, down only three. A jumper by Perez got the Majors within one at 69-68. After two free throws by BSC made it a three-point game, a crucial empty possession by the Majors and two free throws by the Panthers stretched the lead back to five. A late lay-in by Johnson cut the lead to three once again, but a critical free throw with seconds left by the Panthers made it a two-possession game as the Majors ran out of time. 

The Majors were very balanced in scoring, Johnson led four Majors in double digits with 16. The Majors now sit at 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. They will travel to the lone star state next weekend for games at the University of Dallas on Saturday at 1 and against Austin College on Sunday at 1. 

A few notes from the game

The Majors owned a 32-12 edge on points in the paint...BSC shot a sizzling 10-19 from three-point range...Ashley Curry had a game-high 18 for BSC including 10-12 from the line...The game had six ties and six lead changes