HOUSTON – Millsaps women's basketball sophomore Haley Franklin had a career day, tallying 35 points to power the Majors past the University of St. Thomas, 78-70 inside the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center on Sunday.

The 35 points is believed to be a school-record performance, which came on 13-of-18 shooting from the field and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Baton Rouge, La., product added four steals, five rebounds, two assists and a block. Franklin showed she had the ability to lead her team when the game was on the line and mattered the most.

Classmate Whitney Novak added 13 points to reach double figures and totaled seven boards.  Millsaps (4-2) dominated in the paint (42-16) and on the fast break (18-2).

The Majors started the game off with a 6-0 lead. St. Thomas (1-4) would counter with the next seven points and hold a 14-10 edge after the opening quarter.
 
Down 17-10, Millsaps would race ahead following a 10-0 run. The Majors would hold the momentum and lead 34-26 at intermission.
 
The Celts would regain the advantage at 39-38 three minutes into the third quarter, but Franklin retaliated with a swift layup to give Millsaps a lead it would never again relinquish.
 
St. Thomas would claw back and trail, 50-46 with 2:29 to go in the third, but an 8-0 burst (including six Franklin points) would prove the final separation the Majors would need.
 
Not giving up easily, the Celts pushed the deficit back to 68-64 with two minutes to play. However, Novak scored four straight points for the final dagger. Millsaps would hang on for a hard-fought, 78-70 victory.
 
The Majors next host the Millsaps Thanksgiving Classic, Saturday and Sunday with live video and stats available on gomajors.com.
 
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps women's basketball program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.