MOUNT BERRY, Ga. — The Milsaps women's basketball team fell to Berry College, 76-72, in a close-contested matchup inside the Cage Center on Friday night. 

Millsaps College (12-6, 3-4 SAA) led 16 times in a game marked by eight ties, but Berry College (10-9, 4-3 SAA) capitalized on the Majors' 23 turnovers to edge ahead in the final minutes.

Senior Elyse Warren recorded a double-double with 18 points and 21 rebounds, converting all six field goal attempts. Junior Bailey Johnson added 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers and collecting four steals on the night. Junior Tia Anderson boasted 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block.

Classmate Garin Freeman posted nine assists and four steals despite fouling out. Sophomore Ashlyn Hafley finished with eight points, making two 3-pointers on perfect shooting from the field. 

The game began with both teams showing resilience on both sides of the court. Berry took an early 5-0 lead before a Johnson three-pointer gave the Majors their first pair of points in the contest.

Moments later, an Anderson jumper and a Warren layup would even the matchup at 7-7  before the Vikings would call a timeout to try and figure things out as a team.

Midway through the first quarter, Johnson would knock down a three-pointer to give the Majors their first lead of the game as the Millsaps continued to impress on the court.  

Looking for an opportunity to score as well, Haffley found her range on a wide-open trey to keep Millsaps ahead 13-11 as the temperature continued to rise for the Majors.  

Millsaps gained momentum early in the second quarter with Warren's series of plays, including a layup and a successful free throw at 8:35. 

A pivotal stretch of scoring followed, highlighted by junior Mya Richardson's fast-break layup at 7:03, which expanded their lead to 23-14. Anderson added a 3-pointer at 6:22, further extending the advantage.  

Despite Berry's response with a few key 3-pointers, Millsaps maintained their lead, concluding the quarter with an 18-17 advantage, bringing the overall score to 31-28 in favor of the Majors. 

Millsaps opened the third quarter with a quick jumper by Freeman, setting up the tone for a competitive frame. 

Johnson then extended the lead with a three-pointer at 9:13, assisted by Anderson, which was followed by a Warren layup, pushing their lead to seven points. 

Berry would adjust with two made free throws and a pull-up jump shot to direct their way back into the contest, down 40-38 with 6:29 remaining in the quarter.  

Soon afterwards, a fragrant foul called on the Majors would send the Vikings to the free-throw line to narrow the contest down by one point, 42-41. 

Seconds later, Berry utilized the corner of the court to shoot down a three to take their first lead since the first quarter, 43-44.

Taking control against the Vikings, Richardson closed out the third quarter with a layup with five seconds remaining to hold off Berry, 55-54.  

In the fourth quarter, Millsaps put forth a strong effort to maintain their lead, highlighted by Anderson's 3-pointer assisted by Freeman at 8:55, which extended their advantage to 58-54.  

Despite some turnovers, Millsaps continued to fight, with Hafley converting a fast-break 3-pointer at 6:15, pushing the lead to 61-58. 

However, Berry responded and capitalized on free throws and critical defensive stops to regain the lead. Warren's layup at 2:09 narrowed the gap to 69-66, but Millsaps could not reclaim the lead as Berry executed the stretch with a 76-72 victory on Friday.

The Majors will be back in action on Sunday to face Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Ga., beginning at 11 a.m. CT. with live video and live stats 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.