SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College women's basketball team used a 29-8 run to open up a big second half lead and earn its third straight victory on Wednesday afternoon, topping Millsaps College 74-59 in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 6-2 overall on the season with the win.
The 'Roos were ice cold from the floor in the first half, shooting just 28.1% through the first two quarters. However, the 'Roos grabbed 14 offensive rebounds before halftime to head into the locker room trailing just 36-30 despite the Majors shooting better than 51% from the field. Millsaps took a 17-7 lead with just over a minute left in the opening quarter, but Austin College scored five quick points to head into the second trailing 17-12.
Ann Savage knocked down a pair of threes as Austin College continued to cut into the Millsaps lead, with her second triple making it a 28-26 game with 4:23 left before halftime. Two free throws from Bryce Frank squared things at 30 apiece with 2:35 on the clock but the Majors would score the last six points of the second quarter to head into the break leading by six.
Austin College found itself trailing 41-35 early in the third quarter, but Caitlyn Collins scored four quick points to pull AC to within two, and a pair of technical fouls on Millsaps with 2:36 left in the quarter shifted the momentum to the 'Roos. Savage made three of four free throws to put the 'Roos on top 42-41, and threes from Savage and Olivia Bailey helped send Austin College into the fourth quarter holding a 50-46 lead.
Triples from Kendall Heitmeier and Savage kept the run going into the fourth quarter as the 'Roos took a 64-49 lead with 4:45 left to play. Millsaps twice got the margin down to 12 points but Collins, Bailey, and Savage combined to score the final 10 points of the game for Austin College as the 'Roos kept the Majors at bay in the game's closing minutes.
Savage finished with a career-best 21 points, knocking down 5-of-9 three pointers to lead the 'Roos. Bailey finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals and Collins added 10 points off the bench. Frank had nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists in the victory for Austin College as the 'Roos out-scored Millsaps 24-to-8 from the free throw line.
Kala-Jewel Freeman scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Millsaps, and Megan Donaldson knocked down four three pointers to finish with 12 points. Braxton Thomas added 10 points for the Majors.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.