Jenkins’ three-point barrage leads Women’s Basketball past Pikeville

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (November 11, 2023) – Jaycie Jenkins drained four second-half three-pointers to lead the Buffs to a statement 78-64 win at Pikeville in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action on Saturday afternoon.

The matchup looked to be one of the biggest of the conference season as the Bears were tied for first in the preseason poll and the Buffs were tabbed for third. Milligan moves to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in AAC play. Pikeville falls to 1-1, 1-1 AAC.

With the tied at 52 in the final two minutes of the third quarter, Jenkins sank a pair of three-pointers to give the Buffs a 58-52 lead heading into the fourth.

The Bears battled back to a four-point deficit (64-60) with four-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. Jenkins responded with another set of back-to-back three-pointers to quickly push the lead to 10 (70-60) with 3:41 left. Jenkins's threes primed a 12-2 as the Buffs led 76-62 going into the final minute of play and held on for the 14-point victory.

Pikeville opened an early six-point lead (14-8) in the game's first five-plus minutes of action. Clark and Kenzie Campbell drained threes to brin the margin back to one (15-14) before the Bears scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 19-14 after 10 minutes of play.

Milligan embarked on a 16-3 run in the second quarter to turn a 23-18 deficit into a 34-28 lead. Six different players scored in the run as Milligan took a six-point edge. The Bears scored the next eight points to retake a 36-34 lead but a three-point play by Lauren Longmire gave the Buffs a 37-36 edge and Halie Padgett scored in the final seconds of the half to bring Milligan's advantage to 39-36 at the half.

The Buffs scored the first two baskets of the second half to lead 43-36 and Milligan led by seven (48-41) midway through the quarter. An 11-2 Pikeville run tied the game at 52 before Jenkins' three-point barrage at the end of the period.

Jenkins finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Longmire had 14 points and four assists. Padgett poured in 14 points on five-of-eight shooting. Clark added eight points.

Milligan shot 51.8 percent from the field (29-56) while holding the Bears to 36.4 percent (24-66). The Buffs owned a 42-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 19-14 edge in bench points.

Milligan travels to Truett McConnell on Tuesday.