Women’s Basketball loses competitive AAC matchup at Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (January 27, 2024) – The Milligan University women's basketball team dropped a competitive Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup 76-69 at Bryan on Saturday afternoon.

The game featured two of the top three teams in the conference. Milligan falls to 14-6 on the season and 12-3 in AAC play. Bryan moves to 16-5, 13-1 AAC.

A competitive first quarter saw neither team lead by more than two points and six ties. A spinning layup by Kenzie Campbell in the final seconds of period gave Milligan a 16-15 edge heading into the second quarter.

Milligan established its biggest lead of the half at 27-22 with 4:35 left in the second quarter. Jaycie Jenkins made a three and Lina Lyon scored a transition layup to give the Buffs a five-point edge. Bryan scored the next seven points to lead 29-27.

Lauren Longmire went on a 6-0 run herself to hand Milligan a 33-29 edge with two minutes to go in the half. Bryan took a 34-33 lead on three with a minute left in the quarter and the Lions added another three points as Samantha Russell hit a runner from the volleyball line as the first half buzzer sounded, giving the Lions a 40-33 edge at the half.

Milligan quickly erased the seven-point deficit as Semaj Clark and McKenna Myers scored on the Buffs' fist two possessions of the second half and Longmire gave Milligan a 40-39 edge less than three minutes into the third quarter.

After the Lions re-took the lead, Longmire responded with a trey and Lion added a layup to put the Buffs ahead 45-42 midway through the third. The Lions tied the game at 45 and took a 49-47 lead before Jenkins drained a triple to earn a 50-49 lead with a minute left in the quarter. Bryan made a pair of foul shots in the final minute to lead 51-50 going into the fourth quarter.

Bryan scored in two of its first three possessions to lead 56-53. Jenkins canned two three-pointers in just over a minute of game time to keep the Buffs within one (60-59). A three-point play by Lyon made it a two-point game (66-64) with four minutes left. Bryan went on a 7-2 run over the next three minutes to lead by seven (73-66) and come away with a 76-69 win.

Jenkins had 22 points and eight rebounds. Longmire had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. Myers had nine points.

The Buffs finished plus-two in the turnover margin (10-8) and had a 13-2 edge in bench points.

Milligan hosts Truett McConnell on Wednesday.