SEWANEE, Tenn. – The Millsaps women's basketball team put up a strong effort but fell late to Sewanee in the second half. The team battled hard to a 78-72 defeat inside the Juhan Gymnasium on Sunday.

The loss ended a nine-game winning streak against Southern Athletic Association opponents, dating back to early Feb. 2024. Millsaps (16-3, 5-1 SAA) entered with a 16-2 record, marking the first time in program history with such a record in back-to-back seasons. 
 
Sunday's matchup was a terrific contest with 13 lead changes and seven ties.

Senior Haley Franklin led the Majors with 28 points, while adding eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Baton Rouge, La., native shot 11-of-20 from the floor in all 40 minutes of action against the Tigers.

Sophomore Garin Freeman was strong with 16 points, while accumulating seven assists, two steals and three rebounds.

Classmate Tia Anderson recorded 14 points, three rebounds and one steal. She also shot 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from long range.

Junior Elyse Warren posted eight points, seven rebounds and one block.

Sewanee (10-9, 3-3 SAA) outscored Millsaps, 18-13 in points off turnovers, while the Majors led, 26-12 in bench points. 
 
Millsaps also took a 15-12 advantage in second-chance point opportunities against the Tigers.

The Majors outnumbered their opponents, 44-32 from points inside the paint, while Sewanee connected on 43.5 percent of three-point shots (10-of-23) and 80 percent from the free-throw line (16-of-20).

In the first quarter, a Franklin pull-up jumper off the backboard gave the Majors their first pair of points.

Moments later the Tigers would bank back-to-back treys to take a four-point lead.

Freeman answered by finding the basket for an easy driving layup as the team stayed in close range with the Tigers.

Following a three-pointer, the Tigers built their largest lead up to eight points at 19-11.  
 
However, two consecutive Anderson jumpers and a cutting layup to the hoop by Franklin closed out the first quarter with Sewanee still holding their lead at 19-15.

The Tigers were lights out from three-point range in the opening quarter, connecting on 5-of-9 chances.

In the second quarter, Anderson used a step back jumper before Warren and Franklin layups pulled the game even at a 21-21 draw.

Franklin then drove the ball from the corner of the court and captured a floating jumper, giving Millsaps a one-point advantage at 24-23. It was the first Major lead since an early 2-0 start.

Freeman, finding her rhythm, knocked down consecutive driving layups to give the Majors back their lead and up to three points.

With 2:59 remaining until intermission, Freeman again continued to attack the rim with a layup to make it 31-28 and keep the team's momentum going.

Sewanee remained hot from long range and sank two consecutive three-pointers to regain the lead in a back-and-forth second quarter.

Keyes answered with a floating jump shot to knot the game at 34-34 before the Tigers scored a final point at the charity stripe to enter halftime up, 35-34.

Stretching their lead by four in the third quarter, Sewanee knocked down another three-pointer in the opening seconds.

Millsaps picked up the pace as Freeman grabbed a steal on defense, leading senior Whitney Novak to score a driving layup.

With 7:52 left in the third quarter, a Freeman driving layup tied the contest for the Majors at 40-40.

However pulling up behind the three-point line, Sewanee would continue using their long-range opportunities to reclaim the lead and up to five points. Sewanee closed the third quarter holding a 57-52 cushion.

Anderson opened the fourth and gave the Majors life and the lead with back-to-back treys, making it a 58-57 margin.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Millsaps surged ahead of the Tigers following an 8-2 run as Franklin came to life and scored eight straight Major points.

Anderson netted a layup to give Sewanee their largest deficit at 68-61. The Tigers would soon recover with two consecutive layups and a three-pointer to shorten the Majors advantage down to one. 
 
Freeman found Warren underneath the hoop with a laser pass, who made it 71-68 in favor of Millsaps with 2:30 to go. 
 
The Tigers would swing the game back in their favor with a 6-0 rally and pushed ahead, 74-71 moments later with 1:12 remaining. 
 
A Freeman free throw made it a two-point game, but Sewanee stepped up defensively, forced a couple Major turnovers and sank a handful of free throws down the stretch.

The Tigers escaped with a 78-72 decision, snapping Millsaps' SAA winning streak.

The same two teams will meet in a rematch back in Jackson, Miss. on Saturday, Feb. 1. Opening tipoff is set for 1 p.m. inside the Hangar Dome, while live stats and live video will be available at gomajors.com. 
 
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College women's basketball program follow the Majors on X 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.