CARLINVILLE, Ill. – A trio of Mississippi University for Women players – Conley Langford, Claire Leak, and Leileigh Moody – all finished with double-double games to propel their team to an 81-70 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) win at Blackburn College. The Owls win improved their record to 6-11 overall (5-8 SLIAC), while the Beavers slipped to 3-17 (0-13 SLIAC).
 
Langford, a junior guard, continued to entrench herself as one of the premier players in the SLIAC by leading all players in both points, 25, and rebounds, 13, for her team-leading sixth double-double of the 2023-24 season. Langford was 7-for-18 from the field – including a pair of treys - and 9-of-13 from the free throw line. She also has three assists and two steals.
 
Langford added another milestone to her young Owls' career, as well. Her 25 points was her 25th-consecutive double-figure scoring game dating back to 2022-23, tying the school record held by Rokila Wallace (2018-19, 2021-22).
 
Claire Leak also posted a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Leileigh Moody had her first collegiate double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Moody also dished off four assists.
 
Fellow frosh Darby Pitts chipped in 18 points, hitting 8-of-13 from the field. Pitts' early efforts kept The W in the game with Langford, the team's leading scorer, having a frosty start versus the Beavers before heating up in the second half. Pitts had a team-high four steals on her ledger.
 
If the quartet of Langford, Leak, Moody, and Pitts was playing all the right "cards" on offense, then sophomore guard Jas Patrick was surely "the dealer" for the Owls. Patrick ran the floor to the tune of a game-leading eight assists. She also had four defensive rebounds and three steals, contributing on both ends of the floor.
 
"Tonight was an outstanding effort by our ladies and the stats tell a lot of the story about that effort," MUW Head Coach Drew Johnson said. "Having three players with double-doubles is outstanding and having those double-doubles in response to what was an incredible shooting night by Blackburn says a lot. Conley, Leileigh, and Claire did a fantastic job, and really spearheaded our collective effort on the glass.
 
"I was really proud of Darby for the job she did on the defensive end. She had a great offensive showcase, but her defensive presence was an absolute game changer for us. If she can continue to remain aggressive on that end of the floor, she will be a big-time contributor moving forward.
 
"Jas did a fantastic job running the show for us tonight. She took charge and got us into our stuff and made sure we executed. She was huge for us down the stretch; even when things got a little hectic, she remained steady. I'm very proud of her and the growth she has demonstrated."
 
 
The W will remain on the road for a SLIAC Saturday (Feb. 3/1 p.m.) bout at Eureka College.