JACKSON, Miss. - Gut-wrenching. Heartbreaking. Unbelievable. No matter what descriptor you choose, it probably won't cover the feelings of the Mississippi University for Women women's basketball team following its 107-105 loss to Birmingham-Southern College in the first game of the Millsaps Classic at the Hanger Dome. That's because, in a contest where the Owls (0-4) did everything needed to win, they did not…thanks to a desperation three-point basket made by the Panthers (3-2) as the clock expired.
 
The W received great performances up-and-down head coach Drew Johnson's roster, with no less than three players earning double-double totals for the afternoon. Senior, and Columbus native, Rokila Wallace had another stellar output with 34 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. She was 12-of-21 from the floor and converted 10-of-15 free throws.
 
The 34 points by Wallace was her second-most points scored as an Owl (she had 35 in 2018 versus Huntingdon). She has scored in double digits in each of MUW's four games this season.
 
Fellow senior Christiana Harris lit it up with 31 points and 12 rebounds, connecting on 10-of-19 shots. Harris also dished off four assists and had two steals.
 
The third double-double player was junior forward MG Chamberlain. Chamberlain, a Brighton, Tenn. native, was 7-for-11 from the field, on her way to 15 points. Chamberlain also corralled 15 rebounds (14 on the defensive end).
 
In the game, the Owls reversed what had been their 'Achille's Heel' early in the season – rebounding – to the tune of a 68-52 advantage on the glass over BSC. In the first half alone, the Owls led 43-38 and had piled up more rebounds (42) than the team had been able to amass – total - in any of its three previous games. Maddie Guerin had 11 caroms at the intermission and Wallace was nearing a double-double (14 points/8 rebounds) within the first 20 minutes of action.
 
MUW also held the Panthers to just 27.9 percent from the field and 20 percent (11-55) from beyond the arc. The issue was possessions, which translated into 122 shot attempts by BSC, compared to 73 field goal tries by The W. That was due largely to 42 MUW turnovers, 23 of which were unforced errors.
 
Additionally, four Owls (three of whom were starters) fouled out down the stretch: Hannah Duran, Maddie Guerin (12 rebounds/6 points), Jasmine Shaw (7 points/8 rebounds) and Wallace.
 
But despite that fact, the Owls managed to hold the lead for the majority of the game, leading by as many as eight points with 8:44 left to play. MUW did not trail in the contest from the 9:00 mark of the second quarter until the final basket by BSC.
 
As a team, The W shot a season-best 52.1 percent (38-73) from the field. And while "moral victories" don't count in the standings, the Owls' team may have turned the corner in finding its offense. The 105 points scored was not only the most by and MUW squad since re-starting the program in 2018-19 (the previous best was 96 versus Wesleyan, Ga., on January 12, 2019) and more than doubled its 2021-22 season average of 49.7 points per game heading into the match-up with BSC.

"We grew up today," Johnson said. "I hate the outcome, but I love this group. As we continue to play together, we will develop the ability to close these games. Give BSC credit, they play really hard and can really, really score. If we stay together, we could be special. Don't count us out yet."
 
The W faces host – and NCAA III No. 25-ranked – Millsaps on Sunday at 1 p.m. in its tournament finale.