Buffs drop first conference game of the season with 98-88 loss to CIU

COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 1, 2021)— The Milligan University women's basketball was defeated by Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Columbia International University (CIU) 98-88 in the Buffs' first conference loss on the season.

The Buffs are now 7-4 (7-1 AAC) overall while CIU climbs to 3-5 (3-3 AAC) and gets back to .500 in conference play.

After trailing 10-4 at the seven-minute mark in the first quarter, the Buffs reeled off a 13-0 run in just over two minutes to take a 17-10 lead. CIU answered with a 12-0 run of their own before knocking down a three-point shot with just seconds left in the quarter to extend the Rams lead to five going into the second.

Halie Padgett was dominant in the second quarter scoring 15 points on six-of-eleven shooting, securing four rebounds and collecting two steals. The Buffs outrebounded CIU 22-13 as a team in the first half and closed out the second quarter scoring 13 of the final 17 points to take a 52-44 lead into halftime.

Milligan led CIU 61-56 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Rams went on an 11-3 run in the final four and a half minutes to close out the quarter and take a 67-64 lead into the fourth. Zion Neat and Teneea Heston provided the scoring outburst combining for 14 of CIU's 23 points in the third.

CIU began the fourth quarter on a 15-7 run extending their lead to 11 with six minutes to go in regulation. The Buffs trimmed the lead to six at the two-minute mark to stay within striking distance but were unable to get consecutive stops on the defensive end. The Rams eventually pulled away down the stretch coming away with a 98-88 victory.

Despite having a plus-23 rebounding advantage, Milligan turned the ball over 27 times for the game and got outscored 54-36 in the second half. Neat and Heston combined to score 53 of the Rams 98 points.

Offensively, Padgett was phenomenal for Milligan scoring a career-high 33 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. She shot 12-for-17 from the field and went nine-for-11 from the free throw line in Wednesday's contest. This was her sixth game in a row scoring in double-digits and her third double-double of the season.

Lauren Longmire and Madi Runnels added 15 points apiece for the Buffs. Runnels finished with seven rebounds with Longmire finishing right behind her with six.

Milligan will look to bounce back next Saturday with a home matchup against Point University at 2:00 p.m. in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse