JACKSON, Miss.- On Saturday afternoon, the second seeded Centre women's basketball team took on first seeded Millsaps in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Championship game. In their "Comeback Colonel" fashion, the team rallied to defeat the Majors for the squad's first ever SAA Tournament title and advance to the DIII NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Majors stormed into the game, stretching their lead to as much as 11 in the opening frame. In the initial eight minutes, Millsaps outscored Centre 11-3,
Bailey Rucker the only Colonel on the board. Rucker added five more points before
Lilly Reid joined the scoring column with a long ball to close the quarter.
- The Colonels quickly cut the deficit to one point as Reid and
Ryleigh Campbell teamed up for an 8-0 run. Both teams traded points for much of the quarter but nearing halftime, the Majors put up four points to take a slight 31-26 lead.
- Millsaps opened the second half from behind the arc, but
Lindsay Jessie and Reid set Centre within three with successive lay-ups. In the final three minutes, Reid and
Trinity Armour tied the game with a 6-0 scoring stretch but the Majors regained control with an and one to close the third quarter. Entering the final frame, the score read Millsaps 45, Centre 43.
- Rucker initiated the period with the tying bucket and from there, the score was tied five more times. Proving to be the closest period of the contest, the game came down to free throws.
Ka'Niah Edelen gave Centre the final lead of the game, hitting a jumper then netting a pair at the line. Rucker followed with two at the stripe before Reid closed the game in the same location. At the end of regulation, the Centre women's basketball team was named the SAA Tournament Champions with a final score of 61-57.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Reid led the court in points with 22. Rucker followed with 12.
- Reid led the game in steals with four.
- Armour and
Arin Nipp tied for Centre's leaders in rebounds with seven each.
- The game saw seven lead changes and eight ties.
- The Colonels shot 85 percent from the line; the Majors shot 56 percent.
2025 SAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Faith Humphrey – Sewanee
Keimarya Rivera – Oglethorpe
Haley Franklin - Millsaps
Garin Freeman - Millsaps
Lily Reid - Centre
Bailey Rucker – Centre
MVP - Bailey Rucker
NEXT UP
Centre women's basketball will enter the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Tournament. For all schedule updates, please visit
Centrecolonels.com
