Women’s Basketball quartet named All-AAC

WALESKA, Ga. (February 25, 2024) – Four Milligan University women's basketball players collect all-conference honors as the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) released its All-AAC teams and conference awards on Tuesday evening.

Senior forwards Jaycie Jenkins and junior Lauren Longmire were named to the All-AAC First Team. Graduate center Halie Padgett and sophomore guard Semaj Clark reeled in All-AAC Second Team laurels. Longmire and Clark each were designated to the AAC All-Defensive Team as well. Milligan's four all-conference picks are the program's most since 2001.

Jenkins collects All-AAC First Team honors for the third time in her career in 2023-24. She finished as the Buffs' leading scorer and ranked 11th in the AAC at 16.9 points per game. Jenkins ranked in the top 10 in the league in field goals made (eighth, 160), three-pointers made (sixth, 61) and led the conference in the free throw percentage (90.4). She averaged 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game this winter.

Jenkins scored 20-plus points a dozen times and made three or more three-pointers 13 times in 27 games. She recorded three double-doubles, including a 21 point, 12 rebound, four assists and three block effort in a 78-64 win at (RV) Pikeville.

Longmire receives All-AAC First Team and All-Defensive honors for the second time in her career. One of the most complete players in the AAC, Longmire set career highs in scoring (14.6), assists (4.4) and steals (1.6) in 2023-24. She finished the regular season third in assists, fourth in assist to turnover ratio (2.5), seventh in field goal percentage (51.5) and eighth in three-point percentage (42.4).

Longmire scored in double-digits 23 times in 28 games with two double-doubles. She had 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in Milligan's win at No. 16 Providence. Longmire scored her 1,000th career point in a win over Truett McConnell on Jan. 31.

Padgett becomes a two-time All-AAC honoree after previously being named to the first team in 2022. Padgett averaged 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in a graduate season with the Buffs. Her 63.5 percent field goal percentage led the AAC and ranks fifth in the NAIA. Padgett scored in double-figures 18 times with five 20-point games. Padgett scored a season-high 23 points in on 12 shots in an 84-78 win over Pikeville in January and eclipsed 1,000 career points in an early-season win over Bluefield.

Clark collects All-AAC Second Team honors after securing All-Freshman status last winter. Clark averaged 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 2023-24. She finished fourth in the AAC with 88 assists and fifth with a 2.5 assist to turnover ratio. She scored in double-digits 18 times with a season-high 21 points against Bryan. Clark sank the game-winning shot with 1.8 remaining in Milligan's 64-62 win over No. 16 Providence in December.

Longmire was also named as Milligan's representative on the AAC Champions of Character Team. Kenzie Campbell, Clark, Tessa Gibson, Jenkins, Erin Larkin, Longmire, Ashtyn Meyers, Aida Castell Munoz, McKenna Myers, Padgett and Madi Runnels were named to the AAC All-Academic Team.

Milligan posted its third-straight top-three conference finish in 2023-24. The Buffs finished the regular season with a 22-6 record and a 19-3 AAC mark. Heading into the conference tournament, Milligan leads the AAC in field goals made per game (31.8), field goal percentage (46.5), rebounding margin (8.3), assists per game (18.7) and fewest turnovers per game (10.9).

The Buffs take on sixth-seeded Montreat in the AAC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at 9:15 p.m. at the MeadowView Marriott in Kingsport.