Women’s Basketball hands (RV) its first AAC defeat of the season 85-76

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 11, 2023) - The Milligan University women's basketball team used seven first quarter threes to build a 13-point first quarter lead and held off Reinhardt the rest of the way for an 85-76 victory at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

The Buffs got the better of the first-place Eagles as Milligan rose to 13-4 with an 11-2 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Reinhardt, who entered the matchup receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 and unbeaten in conference play, fell to 15-4 and 14-1.

The Buffs used early threes by Kaylee Hendrickson, Kenzie Campbell and Semaj Clark to establish an early 9-6 lead over the Eagles. Clark went on to drain four triples in the quarter as the Buffs raced out to a 13-point lead through the game's first 10 minutes (25-12). Reinhardt drained a three in the final seconds of the first half to outscore Milligan 23-22 in the second quarter and narrow the margin to 12 at the half (47-35).

The Buffs led by eight (60-52) going into the fourth quarter after Reinhardt had gotten back within five before Kayla Romines made three free throws following a Reinhardt foul and technical foul.

In the fourth quarter it Hendrickson and Clark who converted a trio of three-pointers to help hold off the Eagles and hand the AAC's top team a nine-point defeat.

Clark knocked five threes on her way to a team-high 19 points. Hendrickson scored 11 points with five assists. Galea also scored nine points to help the Buffs win. The Buffs shot 51.7 percent from the field and knocked down 14 threes at 58.3 percent. Milligan's bench outscored Reinhardt's reserves 46-20 on the evening.

Milligan's next match-up will be on Jan. 17 against Kentucky Christian at 5:30 in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.