Jenkins Sparkles in Lady Buffs Basketball's Dominant win at Tennessee Wesleyan

ATHENS, Tenn. – The Milligan University women's basketball team continued their trek through the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) schedule on Tuesday evening in Athens, Tenn., earning another convincing win in the process over the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs.  

The Buffs opened the battle with a 23-12 lead after the first quarter, boasting a solid advantage in the shooting category, knocking down eight of their 14 shot attempts. Conversely, Tennessee Wesleyan sank just five of their 14 tries in the game's opening stanza. 

A change occurred in the second, as the Bulldogs battled back to within single digits at the break, holding a 21-17 advantage over the next 10 minutes. They nearly matched the Buffs' first-quarter output with a 7-of-13 second frame. Milligan slowed down slightly to a still respectable 7-of-16 clip, as they continued to lead at the intermission, 40-33. 

Free throws ended up being the difference in a poor shooting quarter for the Buffaloes in the third, as they put up 19 points on a 7-of-18 shooting line with four made free throws. Tennessee Wesleyan did not have a trip to the line in the period, while shooting 8-of-17 from the field for 16 points. Milligan increased their lead to 59-49 with just 10 minutes to go. 

Finally, the Lady Buffs pulled away late, scoring a 23-14 edge over the final period of play. An 8-of-14 shooting clip to match their first-quarter showing helped propel them clear of the challengers in Athens, who nailed only 5-of-16 from the field. In the end, Milligan cruised to a 19-point win, 82-63. 

Continuing her scoring tear, Jaycie Jenkins poured in 26 points for her third straight game over 20 points scored. She was also efficient, making eight shots on 13 attempts, including a tremendous 6-of-9 from long range. Semaj Clark's 21 points on a 7-of-15 shooting night were the second most for a Lady Buff, while Lauren Longmire (11, 5-of-9) and Lina Lyon (10, 5-of-7) also scored 10 or more. 

Lyon led the side in assists, passing out four to her teammates. Three Buffaloes (Jenkins, Clark, Longmire) had two assists each, while McKenna Myers, Kenzie Campbell, Naomi Atchley and Jenna Hare added the last four. 

Jenkins racked up a double-double in the victory, reeling in 11 rebounds to lead Milligan. Myers added seven, with Clark providing six. Longmire hauled in a quartet, with both Campbell and Atchley nabbing three. Hare snatched two and Lyon and Renna Lane grabbed the final two boards. 

Jenkins had a pair of steals and a blocked shot in the game to pace the defense, as well. Longmire's one steal and one block represented the only other Milligan player with at least one of each. Clark, Campbell and Lexi Ervin all had a single steal, with Atchley turning in a blocked shot. 

Milligan (10-6, 8-2 AAC) boasted their third straight win with the triumph at the Bulldogs, and will now look ahead to a standalone conference matchup with Kentucky Christian University inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m.