Griffith, Gose guide Buffs to sixth straight win

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Jan. 25, 2020) – Lily Griffith scored a career high 20 points while Kaely Gose tallied her 11th double-double of the season, and the Milligan College women's basketball team won for the sixth straight time Saturday, defeating Columbia College 78-65 at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

Griffith went 6-for-10 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Gose battled through foul trouble, missing most of the third quarter, and still finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. She had nine rebounds at the halftime break.

Buffs take control late in opening quarter

The game featured the Koalas only leading one time, and they went out by as many as five, before Milligan (11-12, 9-8 Appalachian Athletic Conference) took the lead for good with a solid run eight minutes into the game. The Buffs scored the last nine points of the first quarter to lead by four, 17-13, at the first break.

After Columbia brought the game back to a tie midway through the second quarter, Emily Kiser and Gose hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 13-2 run, and Milligan was soon ahead by as many as 19.

Columbia managed to cut the lead down to single digits early in the fourth quarter, but an 8-0 run by the Buffs helped secure the win.

On the stat sheet

Griffith and Gose were two of the four Milligan players in double figures. Malarie Tallent scored a career high 11 points and Halie Padgett had 10. Cali Weddle (seven points, seven rebounds) and Hannah Wyrick (seven points) followed next, while Kiser finished with five points and six rebounds.

Gose's double-double was her team-leading 11th of the season and 13th of her career.

Season figures

Milligan's win avenged an 82-80 loss in overtime to Columbia earlier this season. Gose and Griffith were both big contributors in that game as well, Gose posting a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds and Griffith adding 17 points, but the Buffs were without Kiser in the previous meeting.

Saturday's game featured two hot teams, as Milligan won its sixth straight game and also sent the Koaloas home with only their third loss in the last eight games.

Up next

Milligan hits the road for the next four games, first facing nearby Montreat College on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The Buffs have two remaining home games: Saturday, Feb. 15, against Union College and Saturday, Feb. 22, against St. Andrews University. The game versus St. Andrews will be senior day.