Buffs move to 10-1 in league play with 74-50 win over Columbia

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 13, 2022) – The Milligan University women's basketball team earned a 74-50 victory over Columbia (S.C.) in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup on Thursday evening in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

Milligan continues its winning ways in AAC play, moving to 10-1 in conference action and 10-6 overall. Columbia falls to 2-12, 2-11 AAC.

Milligan jumped out to a 12-2 lead over the first six minutes of action, but the Koalas trimmed the advantage to five points (13-8) by the end of the quarter.

A 22-4 second quarter helped the Buffs separate from Columbia for good. Jaycie Jenkins and Lily Griffith combined to score the first eight points of the second quarter as the Milligan lead stretched to 21-8 with 6:39 played in the half.

Kayla Romines and Griffith hit threes and Milligan stretched its lead to 20 points (30-10) in the final minutes of the second quarter. Erin Larkin and Griffith both scored in the final minutes of the period to put Milligan ahead 35-12 at halftime.

Romines opened the second half with a three as the Milligan lead grew to 28 points twice in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The lead became 30 with a Kristy Galea layup in transition. Galea fed Halie Padgett for a fastbreak bucket on the next possession. Lauren Longmire sank a pair of deep jumpers late in the quarter as the Buffs led 60-27 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jenkins added six points in the fourth and Madi Runnels connected on a right wing three as the Buffs cruised to a 24-point win.

Jenkins finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Griffith had 16 points on six-of-12 shooting with two threes. Romines and Longmire had eight points apiece.

Runnels added seven points as Padgett had four and 10 rebounds and Larkin recorded four points and seven rebounds.

Milligan grabbed a season high 61 rebounds and turned 21 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points. The Buffs limited Columbia to 30.7 percent shooting from the field and held them without a three-point make (zero-of-five) from three.

Milligan hosts St. Andrews on Saturday at noon.