JACKSON, Miss.— On Tuesday night, the Millsaps College women's basketball team tipped off the 2019-2020 season across the street at Belhaven University.

BU forced 36 turnovers on the visiting Majors, leading to extra possessions that eventually made the difference in overtime as the Blazers won 86-82.

How It Happened
The junior, Dia Fortenberry, aided a struggling offense to 15 points, with seven of her own in the opening quarter to keep Millsaps from falling behind early. A five point deficit was erased by an Anna Wilson three to begin the second quarter. 

Back-to-back three pointers from Megan Donaldson put the purple and white in rhythm, but the Blazers were able to match the pace with a score in the closing seconds to break the tie. The Majors went into halftime down by a pair despite outscoring Belhaven 31-29 in the second.

Millsaps controlled the start to a quiet third quarter with just four points. After a scoreless six minutes, BU worked a 57-54 lead, but Fortenberry knocked down a fast break three as time expired to knot the score, yet again.

The Majors found their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter at 72-65, but could not keep Belhaven from evening the score in the final two minutes of regulation time.

Five minutes of extra time allowed the Blazers an opportunity that they took advantage of, earning their first victory of the year.

Notables
Fortenberry topped the team in scoring with 27 points and seven rebounds. Taelor Manning posted 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Wilson put together a double-double of her own with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

What's Next? 
The Majors will hit the road this weekend for the Richard Dardenne Memorial Classic. They'll face off against Covenant College at 8pm on Friday and Agnes Scott College at 4 pm on Saturday. Both games will be played on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College.     
 

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