JACKSON, Miss. -  The W women's basketball gave a favored Millsaps College squad a battle it was not used to in a 70-64 loss at the Hanger Dome in the Millsaps Fall Classic. The Owls (0-2) found themselves down big early versus the host Majors (2-0), but could not erase the deficit in suffering their second loss to open the young 2025-26 campaign.
 
Millsaps topped MUW for the seventh-consecutive meeting (leading the series 8-1), but it took more work than they were used to. In the previous six setbacks to the Majors – dating back to November of 2022 – The W had lost by an average of more than 27 points per meeting.
 
And it looked like Saturday's meeting might be heading along that same trajectory early on, as Millsaps opened with a 9-0 run in the first three minute and had its largest lead of the game, 20 points (27-7) with 15 seconds left in the first period. A Conley Langford three-ball cut the score to 27-10 at the close of the opening period for MUW.
 
But The W quickly found its momentum. Including Langford's trey to end the first, the visitors went on a 10-2 run in a span of just over four minutes that cut the deficit to single digits, 29-20, with 5:58 left until the break. Another Langford bucket from beyond the arc closed the gap to seven points (32-25), with 3:25 remaining, before the Owls went into the halftime locker room down, 40-31.
 
In the third quarter, the teams swapped baskets, as The W remained in close contact. By the end of the third, MUW had shaved another point off of the Majors' margin and entered the final segment down by just eight, 58-50.
 
MUW stayed within single digits of Millsaps the entire fourth quarter, slicing it to five points, 63-58, when Jessica Hughes buried a three with 3:48 left to play. But no less than six missed layups, and a turnover, down the stretch would hinder the Owls' upset bid.
 
A three-point play by Mia Bowen got The W to within four points with 23 tics left on the game clock. But Millsaps converted a pair of free throws as the Owls were forced to fouls, for the final, 70-64, tally.
 
Bowen finished with a game-high 24 points, going 9-of-20 from the field and 6-for-7 from the fee throw line. Bowen also grabbed 10 rebounds for her first double-double as an Owl, She swatted three Majors' shots, as well, giving her 10 blocks in the first two games of the season.
 
Langford was the only other Owls in double-figure scoring, with 11 points. Langford also snared five rebounds, made three steals, and had two assists.
 
Fantasia Wilson chipped in nine points and five rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Jessica Hughes and Keayra Hughes each booked eight points, pulling down three and four rebounds, respectively.
 
The W will next be in action on Thursday (November 13/12 p.m.), or its home opener versus Centenary College at Pohl Gym.