Principia women’s basketball team defeats Mississippi University for Women

The Mississippi University for Women women’s basketball team lost to Principia College 86-66 Thursday at the Hay Field House. The Owls are now 5-16 overall and 4-9 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The game shifted in a 19-second span early in the third quarter. With 7:23 remaining in the period, leading scorer and rebounder Mia Bowen picked up her fourth foul and had to sit as the Owls trailed by four points, 43-39. Shortly after, Conley Langford, the team’s four-year starter and second in scoring and rebounding this season, tripped over a fallen Panther and hurt her lower body. She was carried off the floor and did not return.

Bowen, limited by her foul situation, returned and finished with her 11th double-double of the season — 14 points and 11 rebounds. Langford scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes before leaving. Without their top contributors, the Owls struggled in the final minutes.

Principia outscored MUW 43-27 in the second half, pulling away from the Owls. Senior Calysia Phillips scored 14 points and made seven steals, while freshman Jakayla Smith added 12 points. Fantasia Wilson contributed six assists and six points. Bowen added four blocks, raising her season total to 82, leading NCAA Division III.

The Owls will next face Westminster College on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in a makeup game postponed by weather on Jan. 24, according to MUW athletics.

Source: Original Article