Jenkins Posts Career-High 37 in Blowout Season-Opening Triumph for Lady Buffs Basketball

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University women's basketball team began their 2024-25 season on Tuesday night inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse in grand style. Beyond their 40-point win over Alice Lloyd College, 103-63, graduate star Jaycie Jenkins scored a career-high 37 points in the victory. 

Milligan boasted a 51-24 lead at the half, after shooting a combined 19-of-40 (47.5%) from the field. Conversely, Alice Lloyd struggled to score efficiently, shooting just 8-of-30 (26.7%). 

The Buffs had their largest lead of the first quarter at 1:38 remaining. They held a 28-11 lead at the time after a Jenkins three-point jumper. The Eagles cut into the lead minimally entering the second, trailing 29-15. In the second, Milligan finished the period on a 13-2 run to distance themselves from Alice Lloyd, as that run lasted the final 3:57 of the first half, putting MU up 51-24 at the break. 

A 22-of-36 (61.1%) second half from the field helped push Milligan well out in front and helped them coast easily to a 103-63 win. Alice Lloyd continued to struggle, shooting 14-of-38 (36.8%). 

The third quarter was the only period of the day that the Buffs did not dominate. In fact, they allowed more points than they scored, trailing 26-23 over the course of the quarter. Most of that was due to the Lady Buffs' seven turnovers and –4 rebound differential, which led to a 22-14 shot advantage for the Eagles. In the fourth quarter, Milligan had their most prolific output, scoring 29 points in comparison to 13 from Alice Lloyd to take a 103-63 win. 

Jenkins had a spectacular night, converting on 14-of-17 shooting for the contest, including a 7-of-9 clip from three-point land. Her 37 points were a career-best mark, breaking her previous 36-point outing in 2021-22 against Montreat. Beyond her, a trio of other Buffs scored 10 or more points. McKenna Myers was second on the team with 14 points on a 5-of-10 shooting night. Semaj Clark scored 12 on 4-of-9 from the field, and Jenna Hare added 10 points on a 4-of-10 clip. 

Milligan had 27 assists in the contest, with Lauren Longmire leading the charge with seven. Several other players, including Clark (4), Hare (4), Jenkins (3), Myers (2), Lina Lyon (2), Tessa Gibson (2) and Kenzie Campbell (2) had multiple dimes. 

Hare was atop the team's box score in the rebounding category with six and was followed by Lyon with five. Jenkins, Longmire and Gibson each added four rebounds to the team total. 

A total of 13 steals and four blocks were tallied by the Buffaloes in the triumph. Jenkins, Longmire, Clark and Gibson each had two of the 13 steals, and Jenkins also took part in two of the team's four rejections. 

Following a standout season opener, the Milligan women (1-0) will now look forward to a trip to west Tennessee, where they will take part in the Chamber of Commerce Classic at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn. on Nov. 1-2. The event will begin with the Buffs facing the Tigers of Bethel on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.