JACKSON, Miss. – Millsaps women's basketball senior forward
Andrea Rayford posted her fifth double-digit game in a row with 14 points and five rebounds in a 62-51 loss to Berry. Freshman forward
Whitney Novak tallied a career-high nine boards inside the Hangar Dome on Sunday afternoon.
Millsaps (8-9, 3-3 SAA) won the points in the paint battle, 26-20 and shot an efficient 47.4 percent from the field. Berry (11-6, 5-1 SAA) converted 29 Major turnovers into 36 points and never trailed.
In what was an action packed first five minutes of the game, with Berry holding a slight 9-7 edge entering the first media timeout. The Vikings would then gain breathing room with a 10-3 run capped off with a three at the buzzer.
The Vikings' lead grew to as much as ten points, but then the Majors would come within three points at 27-24 with a 14-7 run sparked with a long-range trey by freshman guard
Emily Adams. With both teams trading baskets, Berry hit another three in the closing seconds to take a 36-28 advantage heading into intermission.
Chiseling away at the lead, the Majors found gold when third-year guard
Elecia Lartigue connected on beautiful back-to-back layups to tie the game at 38-38 with 6:14 remaining. The Vikings would then control the tempo with a banked in three-pointer that initiated a 12-0 run to end the quarter.
Berry's surge would end at 14 points after Rayfound found junior
Mikenzi Laster in high-low action for a layup. Millsaps would then trim the lead back to single digits at 55-46 after Rayford knocked down a pair of free throws with 5:41 remaining.
Later in the quarter, Berry's lead would grow to as much as 15 points and the Vikings would hold on for a 62-51 win.
The Majors will be on the road next weekend as they take on Oglethorpe on Friday. Tip off in Atlanta is set for 5 p.m. Live video and stats links are available on the women's basketball schedule page at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the women's basketball programs follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
