CONWAY, Ark. – The Millsaps College women's basketball team held off Hendrix, 65-59 on the road for an SAA victory inside the Grove Gymnasium on Sunday. Millsaps (15-2, 6-0 SAA) is now one win off its best SAA start dating back to the 2020-21 season with the win.

Junior Whitney Novak netted a career-high 20 points, while equaling a career-best nine rebounds and added two assists. Sophomore Elyse Warren posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while gaining one block. Senior Helena Roe recorded 10 points and three rebounds and added a pair of blocks, steals and assists. Junior Haley Franklin captured seven points and nine rebounds while shooting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

The Millsaps bench was a huge difference maker, outscoring Hendrix (2-14, 0-5 SAA) by a total of 23-9. Both teams were held under 30 percent from the floor in a defensive battle.

A Warren and-one conversion gave the Majors an early 10-4 lead, but Hendrix would cut the deficit to 13-11 after the opening quarter.

In the second quarter both teams exchanged buckets as Hendrix would start off with a three to take their first lead of the game. 

Novak later sank back-to-back treys to give Millsaps the lead back at 22-19 with 2:40 remaining in the second. Freshman Tia Anderson would end the quarter at the buzzer with a jumper, giving the Majors a 27-24 cushion at intermission.

The Warriors, not going down without a fight, pushed ahead with a trey to make it a 36-33 advantage. However Millsaps used a crucial 14-4 rally to close out the third to go ahead, 47-40.

In the fourth quarter, Hendrix fell behind by eight points, but was able to convert 75 percent (6-of-8) at the line in the frame to cut the lead down to 56-54 with 4:04 remaining.

The Majors defense would come up clutch and produce a 7-2 run, punctuated by a junior Taylor Frank layup with 17 seconds remaining. A pair of Novak free throws eventually finished off Hendrix for the final 65-59 triumph.

The Majors will be back in action on Friday and face Oglethorpe in Atlanta, beginning at 5 p.m. CT. Live video and live stats will be provided at gomajors.com.


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