ATLANTA – On the heels of the Millsaps women's basketball team's seventh regular-season conference title in program history, the Majors were recognized with tremendous honors following a vote by Southern Athletic Association women's basketball head coaches.
On Thursday, the SAA announced Millsaps women's basketball head coach
Justin LeBlanc was the SAA Coach of the Year and junior guard
Haley Franklin was selected the SAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year. Additionally, Franklin made All-SAA First Team, sophomore forward
Elyse Warren earned a spot on the All-SAA Second Team and freshman guard
Garin Freeman was tabbed All-SAA Honorable Mention.
LeBlanc secured his third SAA Coach of the Year plaudit in eight seasons, leading the Millsaps women's basketball program. It is the third time the Majors have swept the SAA regular season crown and Coach of the Year honors under LeBlanc's guidance, including 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2023-24.
Millsaps currently holds a 22-4 overall record and finished 12-2 in conference play. After winning last weekend in the SAA First Round, the Majors earned the right to host the remaining four teams in the 2024 SAA Women's Basketball Championship, Feb. 24-25.
LeBlanc has helped the team pace the conference in points per game (69.3 ppg) and holding opponents to a league-best 33.4 percent from the field.
Franklin earned her first career SAA Player of the Year honor and made the All-SAA First Team for the second time. In 2023-24, she was named the SAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week on three occasions. Franklin is the first Player of the Year for Millsaps women's basketball since
Velvet Johnson in 2014-15.
The Baton Rouge, La., product leads the conference in scoring (18.7 ppg), points (468) and field goals (171). She also currently ranks second shooting 48.2 percent from the floor (171-of-355) in 25 starts.
Franklin also leads the team in minutes played (33.7 mpg), free-throw makes (120) and is second in rebounding (5.3 rpg), assists (69) and blocks (15). Her 33 steals are third most after appearing in all 26 games thus far.
Warren is averaging a double-double with 11.2 points per game and ranks second highest in the conference with 10.7 rebounds per contest.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., she owns a 47.9 percent field goal percentage (92-of-192) and was twice tabbed the SAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week. She has added 107 free throws, 13 steals, 10 blocks and nine assists.
Freeman played in all 26 games and leads the team with 99 assists, ranking second in the SAA (3.8 apg).
Hailing from Little Rock, Ark., Freeman is also averaging 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest. Her team-high 48 steals currently sit fourth in the conference. She also possesses the third-best field goal percentage on the team at 41 percent (93-of-227) and free-throw conversions with 77.
Millsaps will next face No. 4 seed Rhodes in the SAA Tournament Second Round, beginning at 3 p.m. inside the Hangar Dome on Saturday. Live video and live stats for all remaining SAA Women's Basketball Championship games will be provided at gomajors.com.
2024 SAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
All Games Played in the Hangar Dome
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Second Round
3 p.m. – No. 1 Millsaps vs. No. 4 Rhodes
5 p.m. – No. 2 Berry vs. No. 3 Centre
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 – Championship
2 p.m. – Second Round Winners
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.
