Women’s Basketball challenges No. 13 Cumberlands

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (November 2, 2023) – The Milligan University women's basketball team fell to No. 13 Cumberlands 91-83 in a early-season nonconference matchup on Thursday evening.

The Buffs fall to 1-1 on the season while Cumberlands remains unbeaten at 3-0.

Neither team led by more than a single possession at any point in the opening quarter and a last-second layup gave the Patriots a 17-15 lead after 10 minutes of action.

Milligan used a 17-5 run that included 13 points from Jaycie Jenkins to take a 34-27 lead midway through the second quarter. After Cumberlands rallied back to take a 37-35 lead, Milligan went up 41-37 with just over a minute left in the half after six-straight points by Kenzie Campbell. Cumberlands scored seven points in the 1:02 of the second quarter to carry a 44-42 lead into halftime.

Both teams made eight field goals in the third quarter, but Cumberlands used a dozen free throw attempts to stretch its lead to 70-62 heading into the fourth quarter. Milligan trimmed the deficit to six points (87-81) after five-straight points by Jenkins but the hosts held on for the 91-83 victory.

Jenkins turned in her highest scoring total since her All-American 2021-22 campaign as she poured in 24 points on eight-of-16 shooting night. She drained four three-pointers, grabbed six rebounds and was four-of-five from the foul line.

Lauren Longmire had 15 points and five rebounds. Campbell scored a career high 11 points off the bench on four-of-five shooting. McKenna Myers scored in double-digits for the second-straight game with 10 points. Halie Padgett had nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

The Buffs shot 46.3 percent from the field and made eight three-pointers at 44.4 percent.

Cumberlands finished plus-12 from the foul line as the Patriots shot 25-28 from the charity stripe while Milligan was 13-20.

The Buffs take on West Virginia Tech tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Cumberlands.