Jenkins Posts Double-Double in (RV) Milligan Women's Basketball's Victory at CIU

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Saturday, the (RV) Milligan University women's basketball squad matched up with the Columbia International University Rams in Columbia, S.C. The result was never in doubt for the lady Buffs, who coasted to a 40-point win, 103-63. 

In the opening quarter of the contest, Milligan jumped out in front despite a slightly below average shooting period. The Buffs scored 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting, and just 3-of-9 from distance. They also split four free throws (2-of-4). The Rams did not do much offensively, either, as they shot just 7-of-18 and made only one three-point shot. The Buffaloes entered the second with a 23-15 lead. 

For Milligan, the shooting began to heat up in the second, as the group managed a 12-of-23 period from the field. Their long-distance game was still lacking, though, as they made only one on seven tries. On the other side, CIU was just 5-of-12 from the field and had six turnovers in the quarter. With the 27-11 frame, the Buffaloes headed to the break with a 50-26 edge. 

It was nearly a carbon copy for the Buffs in the third, as they had an 11-of-20 period. They also shot 1-of-7 from deep, again. Additionally, they scored 27 points for the second straight quarter. Columbia International had a lot more success in the third quarter, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and putting up a game-best 21 points in the frame. After three, Milligan held a commanding 77-47 advantage. 

There was a steady reliance on the Buffaloes' inside game, as they shot 12-of-20 in the fourth, but still made only two long-range shots on six attempts. They scored 26 points in the frame while holding CIU to 16 on 8-of-15 shooting. The Buffs would exit the game with a 103-63 triumph. 

Milligan's top scorer was Jaycie Jenkins in the win, as she put up 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting. She went 3-of-7 from range, as the most prolific shooter from three-point land for the Buffs. Lauren Longmire poured in 19, with 16 of those coming in the first half. She went 7-of-7 in the first half and finished 8-of-10. Tessa Gibson (13, 5-of-6) and Naomi Atchley (12, 5-of-9) combined for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor to round out the double-digit scorers. 

Semaj Clark led the team with five assists, while Atchley provided three. Kenzie Campbell, Jenna Hare and Longmire passed out two. Jenkins and McKenna Myers also had single dimes.  

Jenkins hauled in 10 boards, all of which came in the first half, to notch a double-double. Semaj Clark and Renna Lane brought in five rebounds each, while Jenna Hare supplied four. Myers, Longmire and Atchley grabbed three, while Campbell, Lexi Ervin and Sabrina Espelet snagged two. 

A total of 12 steals were tallied by the Buffaloes, as Jenkins, Myers, Lina Lyon and Atchley nabbed two apiece. Clark, Longmire, Gibson and Campbell snatched one each. 

Milligan's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) winning streak now stretches to nine conference wins in a row. Next up for the Lady Buffs is a rescheduled battle against Bluefield University on Monday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Bluefield, Va.