Milligan Women's Basketball Shakes off Cobwebs, Bests St. Andrews by Double-Digits

LAURINBURG, N.C. - On Monday, the Milligan University women's basketball squad continued their 2024-25 campaign with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest at the St. Andrews University Knights in North Carolina. After a dismal start, the Lady Buffs found their legs in the latter stages of the first quarter and coasted for the remainder of the battle to a 75-55 triumph.

Milligan failed to score for the first 3:59 of the contest, while the Knights pulled out to a 10-0 lead. Over the remainder of the period, the Buffaloes held a 14-9 advantage to cut their deficit to 19-14 after the first 10 minutes of play. The Buffs began the quarter by missing their first seven shots and turning the ball over three times, but from there, they made six of their final 12 shots in the frame.

The Buffaloes found their groove in the second, concocting a 15-4 run with a 6-of-6 shooting clip over the first 5:28 of the period. They would score 14 more points in the quarter, with St. Andrews only being able to reach 10 total points. Overall, they dominated the 29-10 stanza, and vaulted themselves to a 43-29 lead at the half. A 12-of-18 shooting clip in the period helped them surge to a comfortable advantage.

It was another quarter of offensive attrition for the Buffs in the third, but the Knights could not capitalize. Milligan held a 15-12 lead over the third set of 10 minutes, benefitting from an 8-of-8 period at the charity stripe. The hit only three shots in the stanza on 14 attempts. They headed to the fourth with a 58-41 lead over the hosts.

With a comfortable edge of 17 points, Milligan cruised to the game's conclusion, finishing the bout with a 20-point win. The 75-55 victory came after a 6-of-15 shooting period for the Buffs in the fourth, and a 17-14 advantage across the 10-minute frame. 

The game saw three Milligan scorers post over 10 points, as Lauren Longmire led the way with a 16 point showing on 5-of-10 from the field. She also was perfect at the free-throw line, making all five of her attempts. Semaj Clark came away with 13 points on a 5-of-10 shooting performance, while dropping in three shots from the charity stripe. Jaycie Jenkins was able to score 13 points on a 5-of-12 clip, while also knocking down both of her free throws.

Clark was the squad's top table setter, dishing out four assists. A quartet of others passed out two dimes each, with Longmire, Kenzie Campbell, Naomi Atchley and Jenna Hare claiming those assists. 

Atchley led the team in rebounds, hauling in seven of them in the win. Jenkins and Longmire each provided six boards, while Campbell, Hare and Lina Lyon all had four rebounds. Clark, McKenna Myers, Renna Lane and Lexi Ervin each supplied two.

Jenkins and Clark each had two steals to lead the way defensively, as Clark also blocked a shot. Atchley had a steal and a rejection in the victory. Myers, Hare and Caroline Krueger posted single steals in the bout, while Longmire had one block.

The Lady Buffs now have a 6-2 record within the AAC, and will face a pair of non-conference tests over the next two weeks. Milligan begins that stretch this Thursday, Dec. 19, as they head to Georgetown, Ky., where they will battle the No. 10-ranked Tigers of Georgetown College.