Warren Named SAA Defensive Player of the Year as Millsaps Women Earn Five Awards

CANTON, Georgia — The Millsaps College women’s basketball team received five Southern Athletic Association awards after the regular season, following a vote by SAA coaches Tuesday.

Senior Elyse Warren was named the conference’s Defensive Athlete of the Year. She also earned a spot on the All-SAA First Team. Junior Garin Freeman and junior Tia Anderson made the first and second teams, respectively. Additionally, junior Bailey Johnson was named to the SAA All-Sportsmanship Team, and Anderson also earned second-team honors.

Warren, a Memphis, Tennessee native, set both conference single-season and career rebounding records with 418 and 1,158 boards. She ranks second nationally in NCAA Division III in total rebounds and third in rebounds per game. Warren also tied for fourth nationally with 21 double-doubles in 24 games and averages 15.1 points per game, ranking seventh in the conference. She is also second in field goal percentage at 54%. Warren has added 29 steals, 10 blocks, and nine assists entering the postseason.

Garin Freeman, a Little Rock, Arkansas native, made the All-SAA First Team for the second consecutive year and third time overall. She ranks third nationally with 168 assists and averages 6.7 per game. Freeman also is third in free-throw attempts with 221 and free throws made with 142. She is second in the conference in minutes per game and points scored, and fourth in steals and blocks.

Tia Anderson, from Brusly, Louisiana, earned second-team honors after making the honorable mention last year. She leads the conference with 58 three-pointers made and attempts. Anderson is third in the league in points, points per game, field goal percentage, rebounds, and rebounds per game. She also leads in total minutes, with more than 35 per game, and has a 69.2% free-throw percentage, along with 37 steals, 36 assists, and 14 blocks.

Junior Bailey Johnson contributed throughout the season, appearing in all 25 games and starting 24. She shot 92.9% from the free-throw line and averaged 5.4 points, 16 steals, 36 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. The team will compete in the 2026 SAA Women’s Basketball Championship against No. 5 seed Southwestern on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT in Mount Berry, Georgia. Live video and stats will be available at gommajors.com.

Millsaps College, founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, is a liberal arts college focused on academic excellence and open inquiry. The college has received recognition from various publications and organizations for its value and educational quality.

Source: Original Article