COLUMBUS, Miss. - Many basketball aficionados adhere to the
"a win is just a win" mentality in post-game analysis of a victory and that it's just one game in a long season. But, occasionally, a "W" can serve many masters, as was the case in the Mississippi University for Women women's basketball conquest, 66-59, versus Oglethorpe University in Pohl Gym.
On the Owls 2023-24 schedule, a simple "1-0" is almost lost in the 23 more challenges to follow. However, take a few minutes to look at this season's lid-lifter and the significance becomes magnified. Start with the fact that – in the brief six-year history of the program in the modern era of MUW athletics – the women's basketball program had never won a season opening game, prior to defeating the Stormy Petrals on Friday.
The Owls set a school single-game record by making 10 three-point baskets (the previous mark was 8, accomplished twice before) as a unit. That effort was led by sophomore transfer
Zoe Essary (Corinth, Miss.) – who dialed up a 5-for-5 night from long distance – on her way to a game-high 25 points in her MUW debut, along with six rebounds.
While Essary's scoring total was impressive, the timing was even more immaculate. All five of her treys came in the second half, three in the crucial fourth quarter, alone.
Essary drained the first of her three makes from beyond the arc in that final period with 5:27 left, to give her team its largest lead of the game at nine points, 56-47. But in just over a minute's time, the Petrals hit three-consecutive three pointers to knot matters at 56-56. Undeterred, The W answered back by embarking on a 9-2 skein of its own, featuring a pair of three-balls from Essay that put the hosts up by seven, 65-58.
The Owls never looked back from there in dispatching Oglethorpe.
What a difference a year has made versus the Petrals, who beat The W by 31 points (69-38) in Atlanta in 2022-23. That loss was a part of a forgettable season during which the Owls' roster was decimated by injury and illness, often playing games with five or six individuals and, somewhat predictably, resulting in an 0-18 campaign. But topping the Petrals kept that skid from extending any further and turned the page onto the new season.
"As I said earlier, we were who we were yesterday and we are who we are today," The W Head Coach
Drew Johnson explained. "Tonight, we showed the world who we are and I think I like who we are becoming. There is still much work to be done; we are nowhere near our ceiling. But these young women are up to the task of giving their best each and every day."
"Zoe was a monster on both ends of the floor," Johnson continued. "She made some spectacular plays down the stretch and, at times, willed us into position to be successful. She will be a fan favorite here before it's all said and done."
But Johnson was quick to point out that it was far from a one-woman-show for the Owls. Returning all-American
Conley Langford (Calhoun City, Miss.) delivered 19 points, five rebounds and three steals. "She kept us together and made so many winning plays as the game wound down," Johnson praised.
Newcomer
Claire Leak (Lamar, Mss.) chipped in 10 points and a game-leading four assists. Freshman
Miracle Joiner (Oxford, Miss.) cleaned the glass for 10 rebounds and had a pair of blocked shots, as well. Returning sophomore all-American
Jas Patrick (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) – at 5-foot-2 – went into the forest of Oglethorpe's inside players - five of whom stand 5-foot-10 or better - and emerged with seven rebounds, causing Johnson to proclaim that "it says a ton about her grit; she is as tough as they come."
A further positive game-one sign for the Owls was that Patrick
finally got a break during a game for the first time in her collegiate career. As a freshman last year, due to the aforementioned circumstances of 2022-23, Patrick was on the court every minute of all 18 games. Versus OU, however, her minutes were a more pedestrian 34:50, thanks largely to The W's deeper bench with contributors like
Darby Pitts (Mantachie, Miss.),
Leileigh Moody (Corinth, Miss.) , and
Jessica Hughes (Corinth, Miss.) on Friday.
The W will next take the court on Saturday (Nov. 18) versus Toccoa Falls College, in a neutral-site bout at Pensacola Christian College. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. in Pensacola, Fla.
