BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Millsaps women's basketball team rang in 2024 with a Southern Athletic Association victory courtesy of a strong fourth quarter and downed Birmingham-Southern, 70-64 inside the Bill Battle Coliseum on Tuesday.
 
Millsaps (11-2, 2-0 SAA) had the best of a 12-8 advantage in second-chance points, while also totaling a 15-10 margin in points off turnovers. The team used bench depth (23-11) and controlled the paint (42-32) over Birmingham-Southern (3-10, 0-2 SAA).
 
Junior Haley Franklin led the Majors with 26 points, six rebounds and one steal while shooting 10-of-20 from the field. Freshman Garin Freeman posted 12 points, six rebounds and four assists along with one steal. Sophomore Elyse Warren added a double-double off the bench with 11 points, 12 rebounds and a steal. Junior Emily Adams recorded 10 points and five rebounds, while classmate Whitney Novak finished with eight points, six rebounds, one assist and a steal.
 
The first quarter was tightly contested in the beginning with Millsaps jumping ahead 9-4 before BSC would pull back at the buzzer to net a 2-pointer to make the score a 15-14 Majors lead.
 
In the second quarter, BSC posted an eight-point surge. The Majors would pull back to go into halftime down, 30-28. The Panthers grew their narrow advantage to 48-42 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Millsaps came alive offensively in the fourth quarter by outscoring the hosts, 28-16. Millsaps shot 60 percent from long range (3-of-5) and added 11 free-throw makes. The Panthers built a six-point margin in the beginning, but Novak hit a trey to give Millsaps their first lead midway through at 53-51. It was the Majors' first lead since early in the second quarter.

Warren later scored five consecutive points, including a three-point play to compete an impressive, 16-0 run to lead at 61-51 with 3:23 remaining.

The Panthers would make the next points, but with 1:43 remaining Franklin used a pair of free-throw makes to put the Majors back up by 10. BSC tried to protect their house and cut the deficit to 66-62.

However, Adams and Novak convert two free throws each down the stretch to hold off the comeback attempt and give Millsaps the 70-64 victory.
 
The Majors will be back in action on Friday at home against Sewanee, beginning at 6 p.m. Live video and stats are available at gomajors.com.


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