Sarah Robinson posted her fifth double-double of the season and had a chance to tie the game as time expired, but the Milligan College women’s basketball team fell in a close road game, 73-71, to Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Tennessee Wesleyan University Monday afternoon.
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Buffs, who fell to 16-4 (14-2 AAC) despite beating the Bulldogs 79-61 at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse less than two weeks ago. Tennessee Wesleyan improved to 11-7 (9-7 AAC).
SLOW START, CLOSE FINISH
The game went back and forth most of the way through. Tennessee Wesleyan opened up a nine-point advantage in the first quarter only to see Milligan battle back to draw the game even, 32-32, at the halftime break. Similarly in the second half, the Bulldogs built a seven-point lead in the third quarter but the Buffs drew back even, and had the lead, in the fourth.
Emily Kiser made a pair of free throws to give Milligan its first lead since late in the first half, 62-61, midway through the final quarter. Roughly five minutes later, Kiser followed with three big made free throws to trim a five-point TWU lead to two, 71-69, with 34 seconds left, setting up an exciting finish.
In the final 15 seconds, Wesleyan made a basket to go up 73-69, but Milligan answered with a basket by Kaely Gose underneath, followed by a forced turnover to earn the final shot, which was missed as time expired.
MILLIGAN LEADERS
Robinson’s fifth double-double of the season also was her second against Tennessee Wesleyan. She posted team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Emma Kate Brown scored 11, including hitting a big three to give Milligan its first lead late in the first half. Mackenzie Raizor scored 10 points and added four rebounds.
FOR TENNESSEE WESLEYAN
Hunter Simpson led all scorers with 22 points while Jacobi Lynn scored 20 and Hannah Cherry scored 18. Only four other Bulldogs scored points, and none scored more than six.
UP NEXT
Milligan heads to Barbourville, Kentucky, Wednesday for an AAC matchup against Union before returning home for Reinhardt University Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. The Buffs are down to only four home games left on the schedule this season.
Photo/story courtesy of Robert Kell and Milligan Athletics
