SHERMAN, Tx.—The Millsaps women's basketball team issued a life lesson to all its fans on Friday night: just because something happens once, doesn't mean it's always going to happen that way. 
 
Less than two weeks ago, the Majors dropped an 18-point decision to Austin College in the SAA/SCAC Challenge. Fast forward 13 days and it was time for the two to square off again. But this time, it was the Majors who took care of business, taking down the 19^th ranked Roos 70-61 behind big nights from Morgan McCrea, Kasi Matthews and Dia Fortenberry. 
 
How It Happened
 
Coming into Friday's game, the Majors had a tall order on their hands: shutting down Roos All-American forward Bryce Frank. The reigning SCAC player of the week came into the game averaging more than 25 points on the season. Her lowest point total of the season? The 15 that came against the Majors the first time these two teams met. Once again, the Millsaps defense shut Frank down, only giving up 16 to her, 10 of which were from the freethrow line, and forcing her to go 3-14 from the field.
 
The two teams battled back and forth throughout the first quarter but Taelor Manning hit a jumpshot right at the end to give Millsaps a 12-10 lead after one. 
 
The second quarter was much of the same, with Millsaps not able to pull too far ahead of Austin. The two teams went scoreless for the first 2 minutes of the quarter until Austin tied it up at the 8-minute mark. With 7 minutes left, the Roos took a 15-12 lead but McCrea hit back-to-back threes to give Millsaps back the lead. The Majors used a pair Matthews lay up and six straight points from Millicent Butler to go on an 8-4 run to end the half up 26-20. 
 
Austin College took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Majors 25-18. But perhaps, the biggest points of the night for Millsaps, came at the very end of the quarter. With the Roos up 3 and about to head to the fourth, Matthews drew a foul, sank both freethrows and cut the Austin lead to just one. 
 
Millsaps got down by 4 to start the fourth, but a pair of Anna Wilson freethrows and a McCrea three gave the Majors their lead back, which they wouldn't relinquish again. Millsaps used some big freethrow shooting down the stretch to secure the win and move to 6-1 on the season while sending the Roos to their first loss. 
 
McCrea was 3-6 from deep, keeping her streak alive of scoring in double figures in Majors wins, with 16 points. Matthews also scored a season-high 16. Fortenberry put up her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Butler, who was clutch from the freethrow line, finished with 14 points while Wilson added 10 rebounds. 
 
Stat of the Game
 
The Majors won tonight's game down low, outrebounding Austin 50-31. Millsaps held a slight edge in offensive rebounds (14-11) but dominated the Roos on the defensive glass, 36-20. 
 
What's Next? 
 
The Majors won't have much time to enjoy this one as they'll head to Irving, Texas for a Saturday afternoon matchup against The University of Dallas. Tipoff is at 4pm.