FULTON, Mo. – How does the saying go: it's the little things that can count the most.
 
Mississippi University for Women found that out the hard way on Saturday, as the squad not only lost its match-up at St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) runner-up Westminster College, 94-62, but also saw its hopes for a SLIAC post-season berth slip away, as well. The sixth and final SLIAC post-season bid went to Fontbonne University, which finished tied with The W in the league's regular season standings, based on tie-breaker criteria.
 
MUW and Fontbonne split their head-to-head meetings, including a January 27 loss in Columbus in which the Owls blew a 10-point halftime lead in a 65-63 setback to the Griffins. FU earned the post-season slot based on the fact that it went 1-1 versus SLIAC runner-up Westminster and The W lost twice to the Jays.
 
The Owls also had a five-point loss at Eureka SLIAC No-10 team Eureka College that would have altered the playoff scenario, as well. For the young – the team has no seniors - Owls (7-15, 6-12 SLIAC), chalk it up as a learning experience in year one as a SLIAC member.
 
While the season may be over, it certainly had its bright spots on which to build for the future, demonstrated by junior guard Conley Langford versus WC. Langford led the Owls with 24 points and seven rebounds against the high-flying Bluejays. She also had three assists and three steals, hitting 7-of-12 from the field, overall.
 
Proving herself as one of the upper-echelon SLIAC players, Langford finished 2023-24 by scoring in double digits every game. Combined with the tail end of 2022-23, Langford will carry a school-record string of 30-consecutive games of double-figure scoring into the 2024-25 campaign. She finished the current season averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, ranking among the top-3 in both SLIAC categories (the only guard to do so).
 
Junior transfer Claire Leak added 15 points and freshman Darby Pitts chipped in nine. Sophomore transfer Zoe Essary and freshman guard Leileigh Moody had six points, apiece.