The Oglethorpe women's basketball team held the homestanding Millsaps Majors to just 23.1 percent from the floor and 16 percent from beyond the 3-point arc Friday night en route to a 56-40 victory at the Hangar Dome in Jackson, Mississippi. The Stormy Petrels shot 50 percent from 3-point range while forcing 24 Millsaps turnovers and outscoring them 10-3 in second chance points.

The Petrels got out to a 6-0 lead in the opening 4 minutes, but the Majors came back to within a point by the 3:55 mark. Oglethorpe sank consecutive baskets to push it back out to a 5-point game, though, and led 13-9 after 10 minutes. A 9-2 run bridging the quarter break put the Petrels in command early in the second quarter, as they built a 19-11 lead with 7:20 left until the break. After consecutive baskets by Millsaps, the visitors scored 5 straight of their own to take their largest lead to that point, 24-15, with 4:15 left. The Petrels led 26-21 at the break.

Oglethorpe started to assert control of the game early in the third quarter, as they began the second half on a 10-1 run over the opening 4:20 to take a 36-22 lead. The home side cut it to 37-33 at the 1:55 mark with an 11-1 run over 3:40, but the Petrels turned it on at that point. They outscored Millsaps 19-7 the rest of the way en route to the 16-point victory.

Sophomore guard Nikki Reed returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for a couple games due to an injury, and she collected 20 points and six steals while going 6-of-7 from the floor, 3-of-3 from long distance, and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Junior guard Taylor Smith threw in 10 points and nine rebounds, while junior center Sydni Donovan came off the bench to score 7 points and block five shots. 

The Petrels improved to 18-1 on the season, extending the best start in program history. The also improved to 8-0 in SAA play, marking the best start to a conference campaign in program history. 

They'll head to Alabama to take on Birmingham-Southern Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern. They beat the Panthers in a tight 75-72 decision this past Sunday at Dorough Field House, and they'll look to stave them off again, this time on the road.