Buffs fall at CIU in tale of two halves

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Milligan College women's basketball team had a 10-point lead in the first half but lost by 10 at Columbia International University, 64-54, Wednesday evening on the road. Kaely Gose led the Buffs with 19 points.

Things looked good for Milligan in the first half as Lily Griffith, who finished with 12 points, started the game with a made 3-pointer on the Buffs' opening possession. They led by six in the early going and scored the first four points of the second quarter to build a 10-point lead. CIU, however, went on a 12-2 run over a seven-minute stretch before the break, and teams went into the locker room separated by only a point, 24-23. 

In the second half, Milligan and CIU went back and forth for the first six minutes before a basket just inside of four minutes left in the third quarter put CIU into the lead for good. 

Milligan cut the deficit to one several times in the fourth quarter but could never break through. An 8-0 run by CIU midway through the final period put the game away.

Gose, with 19, and Griffith, with 12, led Milligan in scoring. Halie Padgett scored eight points and Bailey Berry scored seven. Gose (eight) and Padgett (seven) led the Buffs on the glass.

Up next, Milligan hosts Union College Saturday at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse in the first of two remaining home games for the Buffs. Opening tip-off is set for 2 p.m. with the men to follow at 4 p.m.