Women’s Basketball outlasted by No. 25 Reinhardt

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 24, 2024) – The Milligan University women's basketball team went back-and-forth with No. 25 Reinhardt but came up short 85-77 on Smith-Harris Court in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

Milligan falls to 14-5 on the season and 11-2 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. The Eagles remain undefeated at 19-0, 15-0 AAC.

Reinhart scored on its first seven shots to built a 15-4 lead less than five minutes into the contest. The Buffs made a late push, scoring the final six points of the quarter, with Lauren Longmire's three-pointer trimming the margin to 23-19 at the end of the period.

The Eagles lead grew to 36-24 with 3:30 left in the first half. Longmire converted a three-point play to ignite a 7-0 run. Reinhardt scored in the final second of the half to carry a 38-31 lead into the break.

Longmire, Jaycie Jenkins and Jenna Hare each drained three-pointers in a third quarter rally for the Buffs. Longmire gave Milligan its first lead of the game (49-48) with a layup with 3:40 left in the third. The lead changed hands several times of the waning minutes of the third with Halie Padgett's free throw knotting the game at 58. Lina Lyon sank a floater with two seconds left in the third to give Milligan a 60-58 edge.

Back-to-back baskets by Semaj Clark early in the fourth gave Milligan a 66-62 edge. Reinhardt battled back to take a 69-68 lead with five minutes to play. Jenkins answer with a jumper on the other end. With the game tied at 71, Reinhardt's Ashley Woodroffe made a layup and a three-pointer on the same possession after her missed free throw was collected by the Eagles. Woodroffe's five-point spurt put the Eagles ahead 76-71, a lead they would hold the rest of the game.

Jenkins made a late but it was Milligan's only field goal in the final four minutes as Reinhardt survived with an 85-77 win.

Longmire had 24 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jenkins finished with 22 points and six rebounds. Clark recorded 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Buffs had a 38-34 edge in the rebounding margin and were plus-10 (20-10) in bench points.

The Buffs travel to Bryan on Saturday.