Women’s Basketball earns AAC win over Union, 77-70

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 11, 2022) – Despite trailing by nine in the first quarter, the Milligan University women's basketball team turned in a gritty effort to defeat Union for the first time since January 2019 on Tuesday evening in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The Buffs claimed a 77-70 win in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.

Milligan adds another quality win to its resume and rises to 9-6 on the year and 9-1 in league play. Union moves to 11-5, 6-5 AAC.

Halie Padgett opened the game with 10 points in the game's first 5:04 of action, the final point coming on a three-point play to put the Buffs ahead 14-10. Union responded with an 13-0 spurt to take a 23-14 advantage before Jaycie Jenkins completed a three-point play of her own in the final minute of the period. Kirsty Galea put in a layup in the final seconds to close the quarter with Milligan trailing 25-19.

Padgett finished a layup through contact off a nifty dish from Lauren Longmire to open the scoring in the second quarter. Longmire's three from Padgett a few minutes later made it a one-point game (27-26) with seven minutes to play in the half. The following trip down the floor, Jenkins canned a jumper to re-take the lead with 6:44 left in the second.

Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the half as both squads traded baskets for the rest of the half. The game was tied at 30, 34, 36 and 38 through the final six minutes of the quarter.

A fastbreak layup by Lily Griffith in the final minute of the half gave the Buffs a 40-38 halftime lead.

Both teams shot one-of-nine from deep in the first half and 64 of the 78 points in the first half were scored in the paint or at the free throw line.

The three-point shooting picked up immediately to begin the second half as Union drained a pair of triples in the first three minutes of the third quarter and Jenkins drilled one of her own. Kayla Romines knocked down her first three of the night to bring the Buffs within one (50-49) with 5:47 to play in the third.

A turnaround by Galea tied the game at 53 and snapped a several minute scoreless spell for the Buffs with 1:46 to play in the third. Griffith gave the Buffs a 55-53 edge the next trip down the floor. In the final moments of the quarter, Galea shook her defender and fed Padgett for a wide open layup to give Milligan a 57-53 lead heading into the fourth.

The Buffs used free throws to grow their lead to six points twice in the early moments of the fourth quarter. Milligan entered the bonus in less than five minutes into the fourth quarter as Brooke Hammonds, the NAIA's fifth leading scorer, picked up her fourth foul with 5:18 to play in regulation.

Galea drained a step-back three at the top of the arc after an offensive rebound to give Milligan a 65-57 advantage with four minutes to go. Seven straight free throws grew the Buffs' advantage to 72-60 with two minutes remaining.

A late push by Union brought the Bulldogs within four (72-68), but Jenkins found Griffith for a layup with 41 seconds to play. Union would get no closer than six in the final 30 seconds as the Buffs held on to win 77-70. Milligan shot 15-of-18 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to seal in the win.

Padgett finished with 20 points on eight-of-11 shooting from the field and eight rebounds. Jenkins converted 10-of-11 free throws on her way to 19 points along with nine rebounds. Griffith scored 12 points and chipped in seven rebounds and three assists.

Longmire spent most of the first three quarters defending Hammonds, who scored 22 points but needed a season high 27 attempts to get there. Longmire added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Buffs made a season high 24 free throws and outrebounded Union 46-36 in the win. The game featured 12 ties and 13 lead changes.

Milligan hosts Columbia (S.C.) on Thursday evening.