Mississippi University for Women’s women’s basketball team lost its first game of 2026, falling 76-63 to Principia College on Saturday at Pohl Gym in Columbus, Mississippi. The Owls, now 4-11 overall and 3-4 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, ended a three-game conference winning streak.
The Owls never led but kept the game close in the first half, trailing 36-27 at halftime. In the third quarter, Principia increased its lead to 18 points, 47-29, following an 11-2 run. MUW responded with a 9-0 run of its own but could not close the gap, which reached as close as seven points in the fourth quarter.
Mia Bowen led all scorers with 20 points, including 16 in the second half. She also grabbed 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season and her 15th consecutive game with double-digit points. Bowen, who entered the game as NCAA Division III’s leader in blocked shots, added three blocks, bringing her season total to 56.
Conley Langford added 12 points and six rebounds, while Fantasia Wilson contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Calysia Phillips scored 10 points, with four rebounds, four assists, and four steals, the most in the game.
Principia dominated in the paint, outscoring MUW 48-30. The Owls’ bench was also outscored 16-3. MUW will play next Thursday at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, starting a stretch of five consecutive road games in conference play.
