Buffs take down Reinhardt for fifth straight win

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 24, 2022) – Timely three-point shooting and a near-automatic night from the foul line helped the Milligan University women's basketball team secure its fifth-straight wins the Buffs topped Reinhardt 78-71 on Monday evening in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

Milligan moves to 13-6 on the season and 13-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action. Reinhardt falls to 8-10, 7-6 AAC.

Neither team led by more than three points at any point in the first quarter. Reinhardt owned three-point leads on three separate occasions before Kristy Galea sank a three to give the Buffs a 15-13 edge with 1:28 to play in the quarter, Milligan's first advantage since leading 4-2. After the Eagles tied the game at 17 in the final seconds of the quarter, Galea cashed a one-handed heave to hand Milligan a 20-17 lead at buzzer.

The Buffs' lead grew to five early in the second quarter as Lily Griffith opened the scoring with a putback. Milligan's next 10 points came from the free throw line as the Buffs' entered the bonus before the midway point of the second quarter. Jaycie Jenkins recorded Milligan's second field goal of the quarter, a three with 3:28 to play in the half, that extended Milligan's lead to 35-28. The Buffs led 39-34 at the end of the quarter after shooting 12-of-12 from the charity stripe in the period.

Reinhardt narrowed Milligan's lead to two (44-42) with 6:40 to play in the third quarter. The Buffs responded quickly with baskets from Griffith and Halie Padgett to lead 48-42. The Buffs survived three-straight three-pointers threes by Reinhardt with a three from Griffith, a triple from Galea and a jumper by Griffith. Galea sank a deep three with 1:40 to play in the third to grow the Milligan lead to 59-51. A pair of free throws from Lauren Longmire closed the scoring for the quarter with the Buffs ahead 61-54.

The Eagles scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, but Milligan responded with a right wing three by Kayla Romines and a backdoor cut for a layup by Griffith, prompting a Reinhardt timeout down 10 (66-56) with 7:13 left in regulation.

Reinhardt closed the gap to a single possession (68-65) with three minutes to play. The Milligan lead was whittled to just one (70-69) with 1:53 to play. Free throws from Padgett and Jenkins kept the Buffs a step ahead and Longmire drilled a dagger three to put the Buffs up seven (76-69) with 47 seconds remaining and the Buffs held off Reinhardt to win 78-71.

Jenkins led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds. Galea notched a personal high with the Buffs with 16 points along with five rebounds and five assists. Griffith and Padgett had 13 points each.

The Buffs shot 21-of-22 from the free throw line on the evening and made nine threes for the third straight game. 

Milligan returns to action Saturday at No. 15 Bryan at 2:00 p.m.