MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Vikings women's basketball team (10-8, 4-3 SAA) took down the Millsaps College Majors 76-72 in a big SAA clash on Friday evening at home.
Briaiah Lewis led the team in scoring with 18 points.
Callie Jackson was a pivotal spark from the bench, shooting 80% from three on five attempts.
The Majors won the tip-off, but it was Briaiah Lewis who got the game started, putting Berry on the board first with a jumper near the top of the key. Millsaps' offense struggled to find the rim as the game began, and the Vikings looked to take advantage as
Jade Lewis laced in a three that extended the early lead to five. The lead was short-lived however, as the Majors offense came into gear and tied the score at seven with three minutes off the clock in the first.
Following a short break, Briaiah Lewis righted the ship once again cashing in two points to give Berry the advantage back. Millsaps quickly responded and took their first lead of the game after draining a three-pointer. Despite a cold stretch for Berry's offense, the Majors couldn't make it hurt, and
Avery Payne spun into a layup at the basket.
The Majors struck back with another three-pointer, taking a two-point lead with two minutes on the clock. Both offenses seemed to stall out as the quarter started to close. Millsaps stole the last possession, but couldn't extend the lead, remaining with a two-point advantage to end the quarter, the score 13-11.
The Vikings once again struck first to begin the second quarter as
Callie Jackson made a three to take a one-point lead but on the other end the Vikings gave up an and one, immediately going back down two points. Unlike the first quarter, the Majors offense kicked into gear and started to build out a lead, extending their advantage to double-digits with five minutes left.
Avery Huffman became the X-factor down the stretch as she found herself open for two threes, ending the half strong for Berry as she banked in a three from the corner to shrink the lead back down to 3 entering the break, the score 31-28.
The Majors opened the second half on track to hold on to their lead, probing their way inside the lane for a layup.
Jade Lewis responded with a three on the other end for Berry's first bucket of the half, but the Majors went on a run and pushed their lead back to nine points.
Avery Payne made a three that sparked a 13-3 run that gave the Vikings their second lead of the night after Athens native,
Callie Jackson came down and drained her third thee of the night.
It was a new game as it turned into a dogfight down the stretch for each team going back and forth with the lead. Immediately, Millsaps responded to Callie's bucket, earning the lead back at the free-throw line, but
Ava Travis came through on the other end to take it back at the rim. In response, the Majors ripped it away from behind the arch. Eventually, the Vikings seemed to push ahead with two minutes left, but the Majors ended this round ahead by a point after earning it off the glass making the score 55-54.
The fourth quarter promised to be entertaining as the Majors used their momentum to strike first with a three extending their lead to four.
Avery Payne had the first basket for the Vikings, and
Elly Callihan followed her lead with a basket of her own to tie the game.
The Majors had a timely three to put themselves back ahead, but
Callie Jackson was keyed in from behind the arc as she made her fourth three of the night to keep the game tied and then the Ellijay native made a jumper to take the lead with four and a half to go minutes to go. Millsaps did not remain behind for long, making a floater to take the lead back with three and a half to go.
Following a technical, Elly Callihan completely flipped the script getting six points in one possession to bring the Vikings back to a five-point advantage. The Vikings kept the Majors at bay until they brought themselves back within striking distance with 55 seconds left after draining a three from the corner to make the score 71-74.
The Majors got the ball back with 25 seconds on the clock after earning a stop and went to the charity stripe with a chance to bring the deficit down to one, but they failed to convert.
Lauren Ellard got the rebound and the trip to the line, putting the Vikings back up by four with 22 seconds left on the game clock.
Coming out of their timeout, the Majors inbounded the ball and lost it out of bounds with 18 seconds remaining.
Callie Jackson went to the line with 16 seconds left and put the Vikings up by five. The Majors brought it up the floor and earned a trip to the line with a second left on the clock. They added one more point to their total before the buzzer sounded, the final score 76-72.
The Vikings remain at home to take on the Rhodes College Lynx on Sunday, February 1
st at 12:00 PM.
