MILLSAPS COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL fell to Centre College, 72-70, in a competitive conference game Friday at Alumni Gymnasium in Danville, Kentucky. The Majors led by nine points after the third quarter but were overtaken in the final minutes.
Millsaps (10-3, 1-1 Southern Athletic Association) made 10 three-pointers and outrebounded the Colonels 45-36. However, Centre (12-1, 2-0 SAA) forced 22 turnovers, turning them into 29 points. The Colonels created 13 turnovers in the fourth quarter to fuel their rally.
Junior Tia Anderson scored 21 points, including a season-high five three-pointers, and added three steals. It marked her fourth 20-point game of the season, and she leads the conference with 31 made threes. Junior Garin Freeman contributed 20 points and a season-best 11 assists for a double-double. Senior Elyse Warren, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week, grabbed 17 rebounds and scored eight points, also collecting a steal.
Freshman Anaya Lewis added seven points, five rebounds, a block, and a steal. Anderson and classmate Ashlyn Hafley traded three-pointers in the first quarter. Anderson then scored back-to-back shots to give Millsaps a 19-16 lead after 10 minutes. Warren scored the final basket before halftime, extending the lead to 31-28. The game featured seven ties and three lead changes in the first half.
In the third quarter, Millsaps started strong with a 7-2 run, taking their largest lead of the game at 40-32. Anderson continued her hot shooting with a three-pointer, pushing the advantage to 47-35. The Majors increased their lead to 11 points early in the fourth after Freeman made two free throws. Lewis scored a layup and a free throw, making it 61-50 with under three minutes remaining.
Centre responded with a 13-0 run to close the gap. The Colonels tied the game at 70-70 with 1:23 left and took the lead on free throws following a technical foul call. Millsaps called a timeout with 15.7 seconds remaining but was called for too many steps on a final attempt to tie the game. Centre missed a free throw before the Majors’ final three-pointer bounced off the rim, sealing a 72-70 victory for the Colonels.
The Majors will conclude their SAA road trip at Sewanee on Sunday with a noon tip. Live video and stats will be available at gomajors.com. Fans can follow Millsaps women’s basketball on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook, and visit the college’s website for updates.
Founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, Millsaps College is a nationally recognized liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence, inquiry, and social progress. The college has received accolades from several national rankings and organizations.
