JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi University for Women pushed the NCAA Division III No. 25-ranked women's basketball team, Millsaps College, to the edge on its own floor before eventually coming up short, 64-60, at the Hanger Dome. Less than 24 hours after dropping a disappointing result on a last-second shot, the Owls showed their grit by coming back strong and battling the nationally-ranked Majors right down to the final horn.
 
Head Coach Drew Johnson and his squad have, this past week, made a case as why they may be the best 0-5 team around. In three of its four games this past week, The W held Belhaven nearly 20 points below its scoring average of 81.5 points per game, lost a wild (107-105) decision to perennial contender Birmingham-Southern College on a three-point basket as time expired, and today found itself within one possession of possibly overtaking No. 25 Millsaps (down 60-62) with 51 seconds left in the game. And MUW has done all of this while fighting the "injury bug" and trying to mesh its veterans with new talent.
 
"We need to figure out how to start off strong in the first and third quarter," Johnson said. "It's gotten better, but it needs to still be improved. My staff and I will continue experimenting with different things to try to get us going early. Our effort and intensity are excellent right now."
 
"These kids fought and pushed a top-25 team to the brink in their own house. Fouls killed us and not having everyone available hurt us, as well. Once we are full strength, we will be fun to watch."
 
What has been fun already is watching the Owls' senior backcourt duo of Christiana Harris and Rokila Wallace carve up the opposition, especially this past weekend. The tandem combined for 37 of The W's 60 points on Sunday. Harris led the way with game-high totals of 22 points - hitting 6-of-12 from the field, 8-of-10 free throws and converting MUW's only shots from beyond the arc (2-5) – as well as nine rebounds. She and Wallace also had a game-leading four steals, each.
 
For her part on Sunday, Wallace poured in 15 points. Wallace was 7-for-12 from the charity stripe, pulling down seven rebounds as well.
 
In the two Millsaps Classic games for the weekend, the pair had impressive numbers. Harris' average was 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. Wallace's totals were similar, at 24.5 p.p.g., 9.5 r.p.g. and 3.0 s.p.g.
 
While no other Owls hit double figures versus Millsaps, inside players MG Chamberlain and Maddie Guerin booked eight and seven points, respectively. Guerin, a freshman from Ecru, Miss., also had six rebounds and blocked a game-high six shots by the Majors.
 
On Tuesday (Nov. 23), The W will get a rematch versus Birmingham-Southern College. Tipoff in Birmingham is slated for 6 p.m.