PENSACOLA, Fla. – Mississippi University for Women women's basketball suffered its first loss of the young 2023-24 season, 74-56, at the hands of Toccoa Falls College, played at Pensacola Christian College. The Owls fell to 1-1, while the Eagles – the winningest team in the NCCAA Division II - improved to 6-1.
 
"Toccoa Falls came out and hit us in the mouth early," The W Head Coach Drew Johnson said. "Give them credit. They were the more physical team, specifically on the boards. We have to understand that giving up offensive rebounds and not stopping ball in transition, is not conducive to winning. However, this loss does not define who we are, nor how this season will go. I am not giving up on this squad and neither should anyone else."
 
In addition to outrebounding The W, 53-38, TFC took advantage of 21 turnovers by the Owls, converting them into 22 points. The Eagles were also able to control the inside game by outscoring MUW in the paint by a 34-10 margin and never trailed in the contest.
 
Junior Conley Langford (Calhoun City, Miss.) led the Owls' offense by scoring 16 points on a 4-of-11 shooting day. Langford made a pair of treys and was 6-for-6 from the free throw stripe. She was also joined two other teammates – Zoe Essary (Corinth, Miss.) and Claire Leak (Lamar, Miss.) - with six rebounds apiece.
 
Freshman Darby Pitts (Mantachie, Miss.) had the first double-digit scoring game of her young college career by booking 13 points. Pitts was 4-of-13, overall, from the field - including 3-for-7 from beyond the arc – and hit both attempts from the charity stripe.  
 
Leak and Jas Patrick (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) added nine and eight points, respectively. Essary contributed seven points. Essary and Conley each made three steals, as well.
 
The Owls will take a respite for the Thanksgiving holiday, next hosting Millsaps College on December 5 (5 p.m.).