JACKSON- The Millsaps Majors erased a six-point Centre lead with five minutes left, scoring 13 of the game's final 15 points in a 63-58 win on Sunday.
The Majors placed three in double figures, led by Samantha Perez's 23 and Velvet Johnson's 20. Kim Klunk and Kala-Jewel Freeman led a front line attack that out rebounded the conference's leading rebounding team 40-32, Klunk had a game-high 10 boards for the Majors to go along with three blocks.
These two teams went back and forth all Sunday afternoon with 16 lead changes and 10 ties over the 40 minutes. The teams played even from the opening tip. The Majors did get off to a quick start as Perez had six of her 23 in the first six minutes as the Majors took a 10-4 lead, which would be their largest on the afternoon. Back-to-back Centre threes got them back in the contest, and a 6-0 run midway through the half gave them a 17-13 lead.
A Kim Klunk jumper brought the Majors within one at 18-17, but led to a 9-2 Centre run as they grabbed momentum with a 27-20 lead with just under three minutes left in the half. Velvet Johnson then got red hot, hitting a pair of jumpers and a three as part of a seven-point charge over the last 90 seconds of the half to tie the game at 29.
The teams traded baskets through the opening five minutes of the second half. Three pointers by Kelli Randle and Velvet Johnson gave the Majors their largest lead of the second half at 41-36. Centre grabbed back momentum with an 18-5 run through the middle of the half, taking a 54-46 lead after an Alanna Guy three with six minutes left.
The Majors couldn't get closer than six over the next several possessions. A Sam Perez layup got the Majors within four and an empty trip by the Colonels on the following possession got the Majors going. Kelli Randle made a clutch three and a Johnson three-point play off a Klunk steal got the Majors the lead at 58-56, capping an 8-0 run.
Inside the final minute, Johnson swished a short jumper to give the Majors a 60-58 lead, leading to a huge stop by the Majors. Klunk blocked a Paige Baechle jumper, leading to Johnson making one of two from the foul line. Nursing a three point lead, the Majors defense forced a wild shot from the Colonels and Freeman grabbed the rebound and iced the game from the foul line.
The win puts the Majors at 14-8 overall and 8-4 in conference. The Colonels fell to 15-8 overall and 9-3 in conference. The Majors are home for the final weekend of the year, and will host the Berry Vikings on Friday night at six.
A few notes from the game:
Millsaps out rebounded Centre 40-32 but the teams were tied with seven second-chance points...Each team had 11 points off turnovers...Millsaps owned a sizeable 26-10 edge on points in the paint. Maggie Hartlage led Centre with 18 points while Baechle had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
