COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W women's basketball started fast versus Greenville University, but would lose the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) match-up in overtime, 81-70, at Pohl Gym. The Owls fell to 1-8 on the season (0-3 SLIAC), while the Panthers improved to 3-6 (2-1 SLIAC).
 
MUW looked like it might put the game in the refrigerator early on, jumping out to a 15-2 lead at the 6:25 mark of the first quarter on a Mia Bowen layup. But unfortunately for the Owls, the only thing that got chilled was their offense, going scoreless for the next five minutes. The W managed to cling to the lead at the end of the opening salvo, 20-18. Neither team produced much offense in the second period, but The W won the skirmish, 13-6, to extend its halftime lead to 33-24.
 
In the second half, the Owls were unable to keep the Panthers' attack in check. MUW still led through three quarters, 54-49. But GU caught up with the Owls midway through the fourth stanza, 57-57. Down by two with 1:54 to play, Bowen's fast-break layup knotted the game at 64-64.
 
With just four seconds remaining in regulation, Calysia Phillips – making her first game appearance of 2025-26 after a horrific season-ending knee injury last year – hit an off-balance jumper to put her team ahead, 66-64. The Panthers called a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt and then got the game-tying layup as the horn sounded, sending the game to overtime.
 
MUW's shooting went old again in the OT segment, hitting just 1-of-9 from the floor, allowing the visitors to pull, away thanks to a 15-4 run in the extra period.
 
Conley Langford and Bowen topped The W's scoring with 16 points each. Langford also snared 10 rebounds for her third double-double in the last four games, as well as career-leading 19th double-double. She also had four steals.
 
Bowen finished by going 6-of-14 from the field, including three of the Owls five baskets from beyond the arc. Bowen had seven rebounds and added five blocks to her NCAA III nation-leading total (now at 35 through eight games).
 
Phillips booked 12 points in her return to the MUW lineup. Jakayla Smith added 11 points and a game-leading five steals.
 
In all, MUW forced the Panthers into 39 turnovers, which the hosts converted into 27 of its points. Greenville won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Owls, 62-47. The MUW bench was also outscored, 48-15.
 
The W will next host Belhaven University on Thursday, December 11 (6 p.m.) in a non-league bout at Pohl Gym.