(RV) Buffs Women's Basketball Hammers Bluefield inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University women's basketball team continued their quest for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season title at home Wednesday night against the Bluefield University Rams. The Buffs would dominate from the start and take the win by a score of 97-55. 

The first quarter started in sloppy fashion for both teams over the first couple possessions, before the Buffaloes would go on a 7-0 run to jump out to a 11-2 lead with 6:35 to go. The Buffs' first quarter domination continued as they took a 27-8 lead at the end of one. 

A dominant second quarter defensively for the Buffs led to easy transition buckets. Milligan forced Blufield into 14 turnovers in the first half, which led to 28 points for the Buffs. The Buffs took a commanding 53-23 lead into the halftime break. 

The Buffs' dominance continued to start the second half thanks in part to an all-around scoring effort in the third quarter. Milligan's bench outscored the Rams through three by a score of 23-2. Points in the paint was also a huge advantage through the first three quarters for the Buffaloes, who put up with 38 points. Milligan led by a score of 73-40 at the end of the third. 

Jaycie Jenkins led the way for Milligan, as she scored 23 points on 9-10 shooting. Semaj Clark also had a huge night for the Buffs in the win, totaling 14 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. McKenna Myers chipped in 12 points of her own for the Lady Buffs. 

Clark's eight backboards led the way, as Jenkins provided eight and Caroline Krueger hauled in six. Myers and Lina Lyon supplied four each, while Kenzie Campbell and Jenna Hare snatched three apiece. Lexi Ervin grabbed two, while Renna Lane and Lauren Longmire both had one.

Clark also had a team-high five assists, with Lyon coming in second with four. Campbell dished out three, while Jenkins, Myers, Longmire, Hare and Naomi Atchly all supplied two dimes. The remaining assists came from Krueger and Tessa Gibson.

The squad racked up a total of 15 steals in the win, as Clark grabbed three thefts and the trio of Lyon, Jenkins and Myers each nabbed two. Longmire, Gibson, Campbell, Krueger, Ervin and Atchley were responsible for the other six.

The win means the Buffs keep pressure on rivals for the top spot in regular season standings in the AAC. The Buffs are back in action on Saturday as they travel to Cleveland, Ga., as they will play AAC foe Truett McConnell. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.