Women’s Basketball rolls to 84-51 win at St. Andrews

 LAURINBURG, N.C. (November 11, 2021) – The Milligan University women's basketball team won its third-straight game to open Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a 84-51 victory at St. Andrews on Thursday evening.

The Buffs move to 3-3 on the year and 3-0 in AAC action. St. Andrews falls to 0-4, 0-3 AAC.

St. Andrews took its only lead of the game at 10-9 in the first five minutes of action. Jaycie Jenkins scored on back-to-back possessions re-take the lead. Halie Padgett converted a layup in the waning seconds of the first quarter to give Milligan a 20-13 advantage as the Buffs closed the quarter on an 11-3 run.

The Knights drew back within six at 24-18 with 5:36 to go in the second quarter, but Jenkins reeled off the next five points with a putback and a three. After an SAU free throw, Jenkins converted a three-point play to push the Buffs' lead to 13 (32-19). Milligan carried a 36-24 lead into halftime.

The Buffs came out ready to start the second half as Kayla Romines sank a three, Kristy Galea completed a three-point play and Romines drilled another three to jumpstart a 17-2 run to begin the second half. Padgett made a pair of free throws, Lauren Longmire, Jenkins and Stacia Wilson each scored layups and the Buffs' lead ballooned to 53-26 with five minutes to go in the third quarter.

Jenkins extended the Buffs' lead to 29 after a layup and three-pointer on consecutive offensive trips. Madi Runnels scored twice in the final 90 seconds as Milligan owned a 65-39 after three quarters. The Buffs outscored St. Andrews 29-15 in the third quarter.

Seven different players scored in the fourth quarter as the Buffs outscored St. Andrews 19-12. Taylor Carter scored five points and dished two assists in the period.

Jenkins finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Galea had a dozen points on four-of-six shooting from the field and four-of-five from the free throw line. Romines shot three-of-three from deep and had 11 points. Runnels finished with seven points and five rebounds.

Milligan held St. Andrews to 26.0 percent shooting from the field and outscored the Knights in all four quarters.

The Buffs put their unbeaten AAC record on the line again Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday against Brenau.