SEWANEE, Tenn. – Never quitting and never giving up was the mindset the Millsaps women's basketball team took with them into the second half on Friday. The Majors overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to take down Sewanee, 57-51 inside the Juhan Gymnasium.

Senior forward Andrea Rayford (14 points, seven rebounds), Southern Athletic Association Women's Basketball Player of the Week Helena Roe (13 points, five rebounds), junior guard Briasha King (10 points, five rebounds) and freshman forward Whitney Novak (seven points, seven rebounds) all buoyed a balanced comeback effort.

Junior guard Elecia Lartigue added six points, three steals and a career-high tying seven assists in her first regular season game back from injury off the bench.

Millsaps (6-7, 1-1 SAA) dominated in the paint, scoring 40 of their points from close range. Sewanee (4-7, 0-2 SAA) was held to nine percent from the floor in the fourth quarter and outscored 18-6 in the final 10 minutes.

The Tigers finished 6-for-16 from three-point range in the first three quarters to keep the Majors at arm's length, but could not connect on their final six attempts in the fourth.

Sewanee jumped out to a 9-0 advantage to open the game. Following the media timeout, Roe connected on a pair of treys and Lartigue tallied a layup to build some momentum entering the second frame.

Roe, King and Rayford all converted layups to begin the second quarter to cut the deficit to 16-14, but Sewanee slowly built a seemingly insurmountable lead.

Up 33-20 at the break, the Tigers expanded their lead to the largest of the contest at 16 points with an opening-possession three-point make.

Millsaps would respond with a 7-0 rally before the teams would trade baskets, which saw Sewanee hold a 45-32 edge with as little as 2:08 remaining in the third stanza.

However, the Majors found a deep reserve of resolve and closed the game on a 25-6 flurry. Millsaps began this incredible run by closing out the third on a 7-0 burst, cutting the disadvantage to 45-39.

The momentum continued as the Majors scored the first eight points of the fourth to take their first lead all game at 47-45 with 7:03 to play.

Sewanee would tie the game moments later, but the tide had turned with a Lartigue jumper giving Millsaps its final edge, up 49-47.

Following a Roe layup and six combined free throw makes, the Tigers had a chance to tie with one minute remaining. However, King would come up with a clutch steal and sink a fast break layup with 35 seconds to go.

King would then secure a game-clinching layup with 17 seconds to play, which put the Majors ahead 57-51 and secure a gritty conference win.

Millsaps will next conclude its now six-game road trip on Sunday in Danville, Ky. The Majors will tip off with Centre at 12 p.m. CT. Live video and stats links are available on the women's basketball schedule page at gomajors.com.


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