JACKSON, Miss. (March 1, 2025) – After finishing runner-up the last two seasons, two-seed Centre outlasted top-seed Millsaps 61-57 to win its first SAA women’s basketball title in school history.
 
The Colonels (21-7) earned the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.
 
Lilly Reid led Centre with 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Bailey Rucker added 12 points, shooting 2-for-2 from long range and at the free throw line, while also hauling in six rebounds. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team with Rucker voted MVP.
 
Garin Freeman netted 17 to lead Millsaps (22-5). Haley Franklin tallied eight points and 10 rebounds in the standout’s final game at the Hangar Dome. The duo represented the Majors on the All-Tournament Team.
 
A close game throughout, the night featured seven lead changes and eight ties.
 
Millsaps gained an early advantage, leading 18-11 after the first and going into the break ahead 31-26. A 6-0 run by Centre late in the third knotted the score at 41.
 
The score was tied at 53 with three minutes to play before going scoreless the next two minutes. A Freeman free throw put the Majors on top before Kaniah Edelen answered for Centre on the next position, giving them a 55-54 lead. Back-to-back defensive stops and four-straight from the line put the Colonels on top 59-54 with 11 ticks left.
 
The Majors got to within two in the final four seconds but two Reid free throws with four seconds left sealed the Centre championship.