Berry Takes Down the Current SAA Leader Millsaps

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Berry Women's Basketball (11-7 overall, 5-2 SAA) defeated the current leading team of the SAA, Millsaps College (16-3 overall, 7-1 SAA) to hand them their first conference loss and complete the weekend sweep.

On the way to a high scoring night overall, Sylvia Kahoro led the starters with an overall 18 points that began with two opening threes in the Vikings first two possessions. 

With the game tied at six, a scoring drought overcame both teams until under the five-minute mark when Elly Callihan scored her first bucket of the night on her way to her first double-double of the season.

Millsaps took the lead with some key free throws and a late three to close out the first quarter 18-15.

Leading scorer for Berry, Lauren Ellard stepped up big against the first place SAA opponent, her layup to begin the second quarter surged a 22-point game (her career high).

The Majors held the lead for almost seven minutes in the second until Kenadie Lee's three tied the game at 26. Millsaps held off the Vikings for the first half as they were up four at halftime (30-26).

Coach Thomas Johnson was super proud of the team win, "After being down at the half, our team came together and played with toughness against a great competitor. Our great defense is what set us apart and boosted us to a great team win."

After the break, Millsaps extended their lead to as much as nine with an opening 5-0 run. Kahoro responded with a triple as she aided in the Vikings total 12 for the day. 

Ellard backed Kahoro with a three of her own and four free throws left Berry sitting within one possession at the 4:34 mark. 

Ellard fired one from behind the arc and tied the game at 39 and then took the lead with a free throw (43-42). However, Millsaps continued to fight and took back control and was up six with a minute to go in the third.

Callihan's three and Armstrong's foul shots with forty seconds left, put the Vikings down one heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

A 33-point fourth quarter silenced the Majors. Four made threes and 13 sunk free throws equated to 25-points for the Vikings as they shut out the 15-points put up by their opponent. 

After Ellard took the lead for her team with the opening fourth quarter triple, the Majors fought from behind for ten minutes, but were unable to make a dent as Berry ran off with the home win to complete a weekend SAA sweep, 82-65.

Women's Basketball will return to SAA action on Friday at Birmingham-Southern, game time is set for 7:00 PM ET.