Mississippi SR 35: Commend Millsaps "Majors" Women's Basketball Team for first-ever Conference Title.

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S. R. No. 35 *SS26/R1258* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
24/SS26/R1258
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2024

By: Senator(s) Blount, Frazier, Kirby,
McCaughn

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 35

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MILLSAPS 1
"MAJORS" WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH JUSTIN LEBLANC FOR 2
WINNING ITS FIRST-EVER CONFERENCE SAA TOURNAMENT TITLE AND ITS 3
THIRD-EVER NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE. 4
WHEREAS, the Hangar Dome was boisterous and electric, helping 5
power the Millsaps "Majors" Women's Basketball Team past Centre 6
College, 68-63 in the 2024 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) 7
Women's Basketball Championship on February 25, 2024. The result 8
was the first conference postseason title for the "Majors" and 9
advanced the team into its third-ever NCAA Tournament; and 10
WHEREAS, No. 1 seed Millsaps (24-4, 12-2 SAA) was led by SAA 11
Women's Basketball Player of the Year and MVP Haley Franklin's 35 12
points, which matched a career high. Franklin added nine rebounds 13
and two assists on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor and 15-of-21 14
from the free-throw line. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, athlete 15
also became the 12th player in program history to surpass 1,000 16
career points; and 17

S. R. No. 35 *SS26/R1258* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, Sophomore Elyse Warren, along with Haley Franklin, 18
was selected to the SAA All-Tournament Team. Warren netted eight 19
points, 11 rebounds and one steal; and 20
WHEREAS, making its fifth appearance in the SAA Title Game, 21
the "Majors" advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball 22
Tournament for the third time in school history (1994-1995, 23
1995-1996); and 24
WHEREAS, the title contest was a thrilling matchup with eight 25
ties and 11 lead changes. The largest lead of the first quarter 26
was three points as Centre held a 13-11 advantage through 10 27
minutes of play. Franklin would race coast-to-coast in under five 28
seconds to beat the halftime buzzer with what proved to be a 29
crucial driving layup. The "Colonels" held a narrow 29-27 margin 30
at halftime. The visitors earned a six-point lead with a trey 31
four minutes into the second half, but the "Majors" stormed back. 32
Millsaps utilized back-to-back Helena Roe and Tia Anderson 33
3-pointers to help finish the third quarter on a 19-8 run and hold 34
a 50-45 advantage. The "Majors" appeared to run away with the 35
game after Franklin hit a jump shot and free throw as Millsaps 36
moved ahead, 55-46 with 7:50 to play. However, Centre pulled 37
within two points with 1:39 on the clock as the pressure mounted. 38
Franklin then sank 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to keep the 39
"Colonels" down for good. Centre hit a three-pointer, but it was 40
too little, too late as the "Majors" advanced with an automatic 41

S. R. No. 35 *SS26/R1258* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Commend Millsaps "Majors" Women's
Basketball Team for first-ever Conference Title.
berth to the NCAA Tournament following a 68-63 thrilling decision; 42
and 43
WHEREAS, the 2024 Millsaps "Majors" Women's Basketball 44
Tournament Championship Team roster is: Bailey Johnson, Garin 45
Freeman, Haley Franklin, Maddy Maw, Emily Adams, Kayla Ngo, Nya 46
Miller, Helena Roe, Maddie Howell, Mya Richardson, Elyse Warren, 47
Kourtney Irons, Whitney Novak, Tia Anderson, Taylor Frank and 48
Rachel Pflum; and Head Coach Justin LeBlanc and Assistant Coach 49
Eric Vaughn; and 50
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group 51
of university athletes who have brought honor to their college, 52
their community and to the State of Mississippi: 53
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 54
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 55
Millsaps "Majors" Women's Basketball Team and Head Coach Justin 56
LeBlanc for winning its first-ever Conference SAA Tournament Title 57
and its third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, and extend to the 58
players, coaches, students, faculty and parents our best wishes 59
for future postseason success. 60
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 61
Head Coach Justin LeBlanc for the team, forwarded to Millsaps 62
President Frank Neville and the Board of Trustees, and made 63
available to the Capitol Press Corps. 64