MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – The Trinity University women's basketball team fell 72–66 to Millsaps College in Sunday's Southern Athletic Association Championship game hosted at Berry College.

The Tigers competed across all 79 possessions and controlled several key statistical categories. Trinity won the rebounding battle 49–43, including 19 offensive rebounds that created additional scoring opportunities. The Tigers recorded 19 assists on 26 made field goals and knocked down 10 three-pointers, shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. Trinity also finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) led Trinity with 23 points, adding 10 rebounds and six assists. Natalie Greenwood (Dallas, Texas / Byron Nelson) contributed 10 points, while Livy Sauvageau (Houston, Texas / Second Baptist) added nine points and six rebounds. Skye O'Rourke (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) chipped in eight points and five boards in the balanced effort. Minter and O'Rourke were both named to the SAA All-Tournament Team.

The Rundown
The opening ten minutes featured six lead changes and set the tone for a tightly contested championship game. After falling behind 8–2 at the 7:48 mark, Trinity responded behind consecutive baskets from Greenwood to cut the deficit. Minter later connected from three to give the Tigers their first lead of the afternoon at 13–12 as Trinity shot 6-of-15 in the quarter and generated multiple second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Millsaps converted late in the period to take a 19–18 lead at the end of the first.

Trinity scored 20 points in the second period while continuing to control the boards, finishing the half with nine offensive rebounds. At the 7:30 mark, Minter knocked down a three-pointer to give Trinity a four-point cushion, followed by a basket by O'Rourke to go up 29-23. Millsaps got the lead down to one with under two minutes left, but Minter nailed a three-pointer in the final seconds to put the Tigers ahead 38-34 at the break.

The Tigers started the third quarter with a three-pointer from Sauvageau to make it a 41-34 game, but Millsaps answered with seven straight to tie things up with just under six minutes remaining. Neither team led by more than three the rest of the period and the Majors got a big lift in the final seconds by converting a three-point play to take a 52-51 lead.

Millsaps scored four quick points to start the fourth quarter and put Trinity behind 56-51. Minter stopped the run with a key three-pointer to trim the lead to two, but the Tigers were chasing the score the entire period. Emma Winans (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) tied the game 56-56 at the 7:43 mark, but Trinity was never able to get the lead back. After Millsaps went back in front on its next possession, neither team scored again for nearly three minutes. The Majors scored eight unanswered to lead 64-48 with just over four minutes left, then Ivory Scott (Waco, Texas / Waco) hit a three to cut the lead to five. She did it again after three more Millsaps points to make it a 67-62 game with 3:35 still remaining. The Tigers only made one more field goal the rest of the way, though, and Millsaps was able to hang on for the 72-66 win.

Coach Speak
"It's always tough when it ends," admitted Head Coach Cameron Hill. "No matter what the outcome.  But I get texts weekly from incredible women who played in our program and are still great friends to this day. People who never would have met had it not been for Trinity and the game of basketball. LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS. We have six incredible seniors who are about to begin one of the best times in their lives, just as one of the best times in their lives ends. We are lucky.  We are grateful.  We are TOGETHER TIGERS!!!"

Up Next
The Tigers close the season with a 16–11 overall record and an impressive 11–3 mark in SAA play. After earning the conference's top seed and advancing to the final game, Trinity will look to build on the foundation established this season as preparations begin for the year ahead.