JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps women's basketball team secured a 62-48 victory over the University of Dallas at the Millsaps Fall Classic, showcasing a solid defensive performance and dominance in their season opener inside the Hangar Dome on Friday night. 

Junior Tia Anderson tallied 20 points, making four three-pointers and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds to achieve a double-double in her debut.

Senior Elyse Warren contributed 10 points and controlled the boards with 18 rebounds, securing a double-double for the Majors.

Junior Garin Freeman contributed 11 points, making seven free throws, while also recording five rebounds, three assists and three steals on the night.

Senior Lexus Keyes scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and contributed two steals in tonight's matchup.

Millsaps took advantage of 15 steals and a plus-13 advantage in rebounds to keep control of the game. The visiting team had difficulty shooting from three-point range, making just 3-of-18 shots. The Majors' bench added 11 points, and the team scored 22 points in the paint to claim the victory.

In the first quarter, Millsaps established an early lead following a three-pointer by Anderson from the wing. Freeman extended her team's advantage with two free throws, putting the Majors ahead 5-0.

Warren contributed to the Majors, scoring multiple layups inside the paint, including one three minutes later that was assisted by senior Maddy Maw, extending Millsaps' lead to 17-9. 

The visitors struggled with turnovers, committing seven in the quarter, which the Majors capitalized on, closing the first quarter with a 22-13 advantage.

Millsaps maintained a steady lead through the second quarter, ending the quarter ahead 36-25. Key plays included Anderson's three-pointer at 7:37 minutes, extending the lead to 25-17. 

Moments later, Keyes contributed significantly with back-to-back three-pointers, with junior Bailey Jonhson and sophomore Molly Northman coming down with a pair of defensive steals. 

Freeman added to the score with a layup at 4:30 minutes and a fast-break layup inside the basket at 1:05 prior to collecting a steal. Millsaps held a firm 36-25 advantage in the quarter to keep the pressure coming against their opponents as they went into halftime leading 36-25.

In the third quarter Johnson continued the teams tempo with a quick steal and fast-break layup leading the Majors to a 38-25 margin.

Anderson contributed significantly to Millsaps' offense, scoring a layup, a jumper, and a three-pointer in quick succession, bringing the score to 45-27 with 6:18 minutes left on the score clock.

Freeman then made two free throws, and sophomore  Ashlyn Hafley scored a three-point basket, followed by a steal, increasing the Majors' lead to 50-27  securing their largest lead of the contest by 23 points.

Millsaps held their focus throughout the quarter, with Anderson contributing a three-pointer that helped defend their significant 53-34 advantage with 00:55 seconds in the third period.

The Majors kept their lead the whole fourth quarter. Warren scored a layup assisted by Johnson at 7:39, making it a 19-point lead of the contest.

Freshman Kiayalee King stepped on the court in the final moment and sank two free throws with 33 seconds left, sealing the Majors' win 62-48 in their season opener Friday night.

The Majors will be back in action on Saturday to conclude the Millsaps Fall Classic at home against MUW. The matchup will begin at 3 p.m. inside the Hagar Dome, with live video and live stats provided at gomajors.com.


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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.