COLUMBUS, Miss. - A game featuring Owls and Griffins might sound like something out of a Harry Potter book, but it was The W women's basketball team that cast its spell over Fontbonne University in a 76-46 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) victory. And after several tough losses in recent days – including three straight by seven or fewer points – MUW (2-11, 1-5 SLIAC) returned to the win column in a big way versus FBU (1-10, 1-5 SLIAC) at Pohl Gym.
And it was a magical performance from returning all-SLIAC player
Conley Langford that helped the Owls pull the win out of their hat. Langford set a school single-game record for three-point baskets made – draining 8-of-13 from long range – on her way to a season-high game of 32 points. Langford also pulled down 11 rebounds to add to her on-going MUW career record for double-doubles, now at 16.
Langford was 11-for-20, overall, from the field and hit 2-of-3 free throw tries. She also made two steals.
The game was, for all intents and purposes, decided after the first quarter, as The W raced out to a 32-5 lead after the first 10 minutes and held a 44-24 cushion at the half.
No other Owl reached double-figure scoring (not that they needed two with Langford hitting on all cylinders). However, The W saw 12 of its 15 players seeing action in the contest etch their name in the scorebook.
Claire Leak and
Leileigh Moody both chipped in eight points. Both also made two baskets from beyond the arc and managed two steals. Leak grabbed five boards, as well.
While leading scorer
Calysia Phillips (4 points) was held well below her scoring average of 17.8 points per game, she came up big in other areas for her team. Phillips set the MUW modern era record by recording 11 assists (surpassing Hannah Duran's 9 helps set versus Arkansas Baptist during the 2021-22 campaign). Phillips nearly completed an "alternate triple-double" by registering 10 rebounds and tying the Owls' single-game record with eight steals versus the Griffins.
The W will play its third-consecutive home game next Thursday (Jan. 16) when it welcomes Blackburn College to Pohl Gym.
