Women’s Basketball closes regular season 22-2 in AAC play with win at Johnson (Tenn.)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (February 19, 2022) – The Milligan University women's basketball team closed out its regular season with a 73-50 victory at Johnson (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon.

The Buffs conclude the regular season with a 22-7 overall record and 22-2 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play, the best winning percentage since the AAC was founded in 2000. Johnson falls to 3-23, 2-22 AAC.

The Royals played the Buffs tough in the opening quarter, leading 11-7 through the first five minutes before three-pointers from Jaycie Jenkins and Lauren Longmire tied the game at 15 with two minutes to play in the quarter. After 10 minutes of action, the game was tied at 18.

Milligan took control early in the second quarter as Jenkins buried threes on consecutive trips down the floor to open up a 24-18 lead 1:11 into the period. Halie Padgett made it an 8-0 run to open the quarter with a layup. Johnson whittled the advantage back to four (27-23) with 4:30 to play in the first half, but back-to-back baskets by Kaylee Hendrickson and Stacia Wilson kept the Buffs ahead by multiple possessions. Milligan carried a 33-25 lead into halftime.

The Buffs used a 9-0 run that was capped by a Hendrickson triple to build a 46-30 lead at the midway point of the third quarter. The Royals scored the final seven points of the quarter to trim the deficit back to single digits (49-40) going into the fourth quarter.

Padgett scored six points and Jenkins had a basket as Milligan scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to lead 57-40 with seven minutes left in regulation. The Buffs wound up outscoring Johnson 24-10 in the fourth and came away with a 73-50 victory.

Jenkins and Padgett finished with double-doubles. Jenkins had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Padgett poured in 21 points and 12 rebounds. Longmire had seven points, five rebounds and five assists. Wilson grabbed 10 rebounds on the day.

Milligan dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 57-34. Milligan owned a 38-24 edge in points in the paint were plus-nine in bench points (17-8).

The Buffs earn the No. 2 seed in the AAC Tournament and will host No. 15 St. Andrews in the first round of postseason play on Monday night at 5:30 p.m.