JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps women's basketball team overcame a slow start to down crosstown rival Belhaven University, 92-78 inside Rugg Arena on Tuesday.
Millsaps (3-1) had four scorers reach double figures. Sophomore
Garin Freeman netted 18 points, classmate
Tia Anderson chipped in 14 points, junior
Elyse Warren (12 rebounds) scored 12 and senior
Haley Franklin added 18.
Belhaven (0-3) was led by Ebony Gayden's 23 points. The Majors shot 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point range.
After a slow start by Millsaps, Franklin made a floating jump shot as the buzzer closed the first quarter with Belhaven leading, 19-17.
The three-point shooting came alive for the Majors midway into the second quarter as Adams sunk a trey to give Millsaps a 25-23 advantage. Freeman completed a drive to the basket moments later, pushing the Majors further ahead at 28-23.
Anderson then connected from long range to make it a 33-23 contest with four minutes until halftime. She followed that with a three-pointer while being fouled a minute later to make it 36-25. Anderson posted yet one more as her shooting streak continued, making it 39-27.
Millsaps eventually outscored the Blazers, 25-11 in the second quarter and held a 42-30 margin at intermission.
With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Freeman put the Major faithful on their feet with a nifty up-and-under drive. Her layup made it a 57-42 contest.
Belhaven cut the deficit down to 11 points, but Franklin then found Novak wide open from long range giving Millsaps a 60-46 advantage with 1:30 left in the third.
Anderson ended the third quarter with a buzzer beater from long range after an impressive Franklin kickout pass. The Majors held a 63-48 advantage with 10:00 to play.
A Warren layup and Franklin stepback jumper continued Millsaps' momentum to open the fourth frame. Another Freeman drive extended the Major scoring to 70-55 with 5:41 to play.
Franklin made a cut by a defender and converted a nifty and-one play, giving Millsaps a 20-point advantage moments later.
Belhaven increased the pressure and battled back to make it an 82-70 Millsaps advantage with 1:04 remaining.
The comeback came too late as the Majors iced the game away at the free-throw line, freshman
Naomi Berry sank one final trey and classmate
Ashlyn Hafley netted a layup while being fouled to claim a 92-78 road triumph.
The Majors will be back in action inside Rugg Arena and compete in the Belhaven University Classic on Saturday. Millsaps will face Centenary College at 1 p.m. with live video and live stats available at 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.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
