JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps women's basketball team edged MUW, 70-64 inside the Hangar Dome on Saturday, fueled by a strong start and crucial defensive stops late.

The Majors jumped to a 20-point lead in the first quarter and held on despite MUW's second-quarter surge. Millsaps controlled the paint with 34 points and collected 44 rebounds, which proved crucial in maintaining their lead.

Junior Garin Freeman scored 22 points and recorded five assists, contributing significantly defensively with two blocks and two steals.

Senior Elyse Warren added 11 points and dominated the boards with 16 rebounds, securing her second double-double of the weekend and close out the Millsaps Fall Classic. The Memphis, Tenn., native, also recorded 10 rebounds on the defensive side of the court.

Junior Tia Anderson finished with 18 points, four rebounds, one assist and a steal. Sophomore Ashlyn Hafley contributed defensively with two steals and added three points.

Millsaps opened the game assertively on Saturday, with Warren scoring the initial layup inside the paint off an assist from Freeman.

Throughout the first quarter, Millsaps maintained their momentum, with senior Lexus Keyes contributing two layups, including a fast-break basket in the final seconds erupting the Majors dominant performance inside the interior.

Anderson contributed to the Majors team's success with two 3-pointers, helping the squad build a commanding 27-10 lead by the end of the quarter.

MUW mounted a strong second-quarter performance, outscoring the Majors 21-13. 

Millsaps responded with a Warren layup at 7:44 to bring the score to 29-16 in the Majors' favor. Junior Bailey Johnson added a three-pointer with 4:55 until halftime, extending the home team's lead to 32-20.

Freeman made a significant impact towards the quarter's end, scoring four consecutive baskets to maintain Millsaps' lead at 40-31 going into intermission.

The Owls became active in the paint, recording multiple layups, but Millsaps managed to sustain their advantage throughout the third quarter.

MUW closed the quarter with a layup at the buzzer, bringing the score to 58-50 still in favor of the Majors.

In the fourth quarter, an Owl's layup at 8:45 cut the deficit to six points. The Majors responded with a pair of Freeman free throws at 7:54, extending their lead. 

Anderson's 3-pointer with 5:45 remaining pushed the Majors' advantage to nine points. The Owls kept the pressure with a 3-pointer of their own reducing their gap to five with 3:48 remaining.

Millsaps sealed the victory with Freeman's consistent free-throw shooting, including two crucial shots with 13 seconds left, securing a 70-64 win.

The Majors will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 14, to face Centenary at home beginning at 6 p.m. Live video and live stats will be provided 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 and 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.