CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Millsaps women's basketball team's stellar season came to an end in the 2024 NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Championship First Round on Friday. The Majors were bested by top-ranked New York University, 78-51 inside Billera Hall Gymnasium on the campus of DeSales University. 
 
The Majors closed its tremendous season with a 24-5 record, which is the most wins in a single campaign in program history. Millsaps bettered the previous mark of 23-4 set in 1995-96. The 1995-96 campaign was also the last time the Majors competed in the NCAA Tournament. 

"I couldn't be prouder in my team and what they did this season," Millsaps women's basketball head coach and SAA Coach of the Year Justin LeBlanc said postgame. "I thought we played hard."

Millsaps (24-5, 12-2 SAA) also claimed its first-ever postseason conference title last week and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time. 

NYU (26-0, 14-0 UAA) entered the game ranked No. 1 in both the WBCA NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll and D3hoops.com Women's Top 25 Poll.

The Violets, who reached the NCAA Championship as one of four unbeaten teams, held the Majors to 32.1 percent (18-of 56) from the field and shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) themselves.

Millsaps only trailed 40-30 with points in the paint, but the Violets' height led to a 56-28 rebounding disparity. NYU also went 46.5 percent (6-of-13) from long range in the first half.
 
Freshman Garin Freeman finished with career- and game-highs of 23 points (10-of-18 FG). She matched a team-best four rebounds and added two steals and an assist. The All-SAA Honorable Mention guard netted 16 first-half points (7-of-11 FG) as well. 
 
"You can't be scared, you have to do what you normally do," Freeman said postgame. "I trust(ed) my team and my preparation."

SAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year Haley Franklin finished with 11 points, four boards, a steal, a block and an assist. Franklin finished the season with 526 points, breaking her own school record of 514.
 
Seniors Helena Roe (four rebounds) and Maddie Howell (two rebounds) likely competed in their final collegiate contests. 
 
Both teams looked to find their range as the first basket of the game came nearly three minutes in. After a 5-0 NYU start, junior Emily Adams gave the Majors their first make with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 5-3.
 
A Freeman scoop move then cut it to 10-5. Back-to-back Franklin and Freeman makes later brought the Majors down to a 15-9 deficit early.

Freeman then converted a reverse layup under the net to close the scoring in the first quarter as the Violets led 20-14.
 
After a Violet 3-pointer, Freeman tallied a driving layup in the opening minute of the second quarter to cut the lead to 23-16 and open the game 5-of-5 from the floor. The freshman scored the next four Major points to make it a 25-20 contest.
 
A sophomore Elyse Warren right-handed layup stopped an NYU 7-0 run later in the frame. However, the Violets then answered to close the half on a 9-2 burst and held a 41-24 margin at intermission.

NYU added to their run with the first eight points of the third quarter before Franklin sank a one-foot floating jumper. Freeman soon followed with a bank shot.
 
The Violets continued to grow the margin and entered the fourth quarter out front, 68-38. NYU would hold off the Majors for a 78-51 decision.

"It's been phenomenal to see the growth of this team," LeBlanc said. "I want this team to be remembered for their toughness, their resiliency … To get to the NCAA Tournament is something this team and myself are never going to forget."    


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