FIRST HALF RUN LAUNCHES PIRATES TO WIN

JACKSON, Miss. - The Pirates used two 11-0 runs to mount a 15 point first half lead the held up for the rest of the game as Southwestern defeated Millsaps 70-65 on Saturday night.

The Majors were able to bring the lead down to eight points, 36-28, heading into halftime. Southwestern went back to work at the outset of the second half, however, and built the lead back up to 15 points, 51-36, from the three point line, draining three in the opening five minutes.

Just three minutes later Millsaps came within five, 52-47, as the Pirates went cold from the floor, but a pair of free throws and a three pointer by Reilly Robertson got things back on track for SU and put the Pirates up by 10, 57-47, at the midway point of the half.

Millsaps refused to accept defeat as they came charging back to within two, 57-59, with six minutes to play. The teams exchanged field goals and SU missed a couple of crucial free throws to allow the Majors to within one, 66-65, with 30 ticks left on the clock.

Chelsea Leeder (pictured) closed out the win from the free throw line, going 4-4 to give Southwestern the important 70-65 win.

Southwestern was led by Robertson and Shae Seagraves who had 14 points each while Anna Fareed and Leeder both added 10. Katelyn Bartell was just one point and two rebounds away from her first double-double of the season, posting a team high eight rebounds and contributing nine points. Millsaps' Janice Okeke had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Majors.

The Pirates improve to 14-8 on the year and 6-7 in the SCAC, moving into fourth place in the West, tied with Trinity, with a chance to move into a three way tie for third if Colorado College would lose on Sunday.

The final home stand of the season starts on Friday as the Pirates face Austin College on Pink Zone night beginning at 6:00 pm.