Second half rally powers Women’s Basketball to season sweep over Pikeville

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 13, 2024) – The Milligan University women's basketball team rallied in the second half to defeat Pikeville 84-78 on Smith-Harris Court in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

The matchup featured two of the Appalachian Athletic Conference's (AAC) top teams. Milligan completed a season sweep over the Bears and moved to 13-4 on the season and 10-1 in AAC league play. Pikeville falls to 13-6, 9-4 AAC.

Following the win, Milligan alumni Sonny Smith ('58) and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Del Harris ('59) were honored with a ceremony to name the basketball court, Smith-Harris Court.

Pikeville opened its largest lead of the second half (49-44) with three minutes to play in the third quarter. Coach Kylie Russell Greer called a 30 second timeout and the Buffs responded with a 12-0 run. Halie Padgett made a pair of baskets, including a three-point play and Jaycie Jenkins drained a three to put Milligan ahead 56-49. The Buffs carried a 56-50 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Bears trimmed Milligan's lead to 62-59 at the 6:35 mark in the fourth but the Buffs responded by scoring the next seven points with Lauren Longmire's trey pushing Milligan's lead to 69-59 with 4:36 left. A three-point play by Padgett pushed Milligan's edge to 76-64 with 2:30 remaining.

Pikeville scrapped back to a three-point margin (78-75) in the final 30 seconds of play but Clark and Longmire sank six free throws to ice the win.

Pikeville took advantage of three Milligan turnovers in the first two-plus minutes of play to gain an early 7-0 advantage. Back-to-back baskets by Lauren Longmire and a three-pointer by Semaj Clark put Milligan back within a possession (10-7). Layups by Lina Lyon and Jenkins in the final minute made it a slim 14-13 Pikeville advantage over the first 10 minutes.

The Bears built a 25-18 lead four minutes into the second quarter. Jenkins drained a three and Madi Runnels converted a three-point play and sank a corner trey of her own to get within two (31-29). Longmire tied the game with two minutes to play in the half with a pair of free throws and Padgett gave the Buffs their first lead of the day at 33-31 with 90 seconds left in the half. Pikeville scored the final four points of the period to carry a 35-33 lead into the halftime break.

Padgett led the way with 23 points on nine-of-12 shooting. Jenkins had 21 points and eight rebounds. Longmire posted 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Clark had 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the ballgame.

Milligan shot 53.6 percent (30-56) for the game while holding Pikeville to 44.4 percent (28-63). The Buffs won the rebounding battle 35-31 and held a 40-30 edge in points in the paint.

The Buffs travel to Union next Saturday.