Buffs rally back but come up short to Allen

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Jan. 7, 2020) – A pair of big rebounding efforts from Kaely Gose and Halie Padgett was not enough Tuesday evening as the Milligan College women's basketball team lost to Allen University 81-65 in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. Gose tallied one shy of her career high with 17 rebounds alongside 13 points while Padgett matched her career high with 15 rebounds alongside 11 points.

Milligan spotted Allen the first 11 points of the game and trailed by 14 in the first quarter but battled back to take the lead in the third quarter only to see Allen finish the game on a 27-12 run.

Milligan leaders

Emily Kiser came off the bench and led Milligan in scoring with 14 points. She connected on each of her first three 3-point attempts at the end of the first quarter, helping Milligan chip away at Allen's early lead. Kiser was one of four Buffs in double figures for scoring, as Gose and Lily Griffith each scored 13, and Padgett scored 11.

The double-double for Gose was her sixth of the season, five of which have come in the last seven games. She also has 15 or more rebounds in three games this season.

Padgett's double-double marked her fourth of the season, all coming in the last seven games. This was Padgett's second time reaching 15 rebounds, which is her career high.

Milligan's second-half charge

Despite seeing such deficits as 11-0 and 25-11 in the first quarter, then 40-27 in the second quarter, the Buffs bounced back with a run that put them into the lead in the third quarter. Griffith made a pair of free throws and Padgett scored a basket late in the second quarter to complete a 4-0 run to end the half, then the Buffs started the second half with an 8-2 run to cut it to three. They followed this with a 6-0 run moments later when Griffith and Kayla Romines hit back-to-back threes to tie the game.

Milligan went on to take the lead on a Padgett basket before retaking it one possession later on a Cali Weddle three. However, Allen responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead back for good and ended up extending the lead back to double figures in the final quarter.

In all, Milligan's run to storm all the way back was 36-20, spanning over 17 minutes of play.

Up next

Milligan returns home Thursday and Saturday for games against Truett McConnell and Warren Wilson. Thursday's tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. Saturday is set for a 2 p.m. start and will feature only the women at home.