BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In the first conference game of the season for both teams, Birmingham Southern clipped Millsaps, 62-57 in the closing minutes in Birmingham Tuesday afternoon. The Majors are now 3-9 on the season and 0-1 in SAA play. BSC improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
Three Majors scored in double figures. Junior
Braxton Thomas recorded her second double-double of the season in as many games, finishing with 12 points and a game high 11 rebounds on 5-9 shooting. Freshman
Dia Fortenberry led all players with 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while sophomore
Megan Donaldson's four threes equaled 12 points. Sophomore
Anna Wilson finished with eight points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Two baskets by Wilson and a layup from Fortenberry put Millsaps on top 6-2 with 5:44 to go in the first. After a jumper by
Rebecca Harris, BSC answered with a three to pull to within one point. Donaldson hit a three of her own to make it an 11-7 Major lead with 2:50 to go. But BSC closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run to put Millsaps behind 15-11 at the end of the first.
Fortenberry scored ten out of her 14 points in the second, including scoring eight straight to start the quarter on an 8-3 run, giving Millsaps a 19-18 lead with 6:40 until the half. After both teams traded baskets over the ensuing minutes, Thomas made two free throws in the final minute to tie the game at 27 at halftime.
BSC began the third by outscoring the Majors 16-9 in the quarter to take a 43-36 lead with a minute to go. Over the final 45 seconds,
Millicent Butler and Donaldson hit threes to put Millsaps behind 43-42 at the end of the third.
Donaldson's three tied the game at 47 with 8:30 to go, but BSC answered with a 7-0 run to give them a 54-47 lead with 5:38 left. Millsaps followed with a 10-2 run of their own, capped off with a jumper by Fortenberry to make it a 57-56 Majors lead with 1:19 on the clock. That would be the last time Millsaps led, as BSC's basket with 13 seconds remaining put them on top for good and the home team made their free throws to put the game away.
The Majors continue their season with another SAA contest at Sewanee on Friday, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
