In a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), the Milligan University women's basketball team fell at Bryan 69-60 on Saturday afternoon.
The Buffs fell to 8-4 on the season and 6-2 in AAC play. Bryan rises to 8-2, 7-1 AAC.
In a game where both teams totaled 45 points in the first, second and fourth quarter, Bryan's 24-15 margin in the third quarter proved decisive.
The Buffs enjoyed an early seven-point lead (11-4) through the first five minutes of the contest, however the Loins closed the quarter on a 9-2 spurt to tie the score at 13 at the end of the first quarter.
Milligan served as aggressors in the first half of the second quarter as well. The Buffs embarked on a 10-2 run that featured eight points by Kristy Galea to establish their biggest lead of the day at 26-19. Again, Bryan fashioned a response and used five Milligan turnovers to fashion 12-0 run over the final 5:16 of the second quarter. The Lions owned a 31-28 lead at the half.
Bryan quickly grew its lead to double-digits at 38-28 by scoring the first seven points of the second half. The Loins' lead extended to 15 (51-36) with three minutes to play in the third quarter. A late three-pointer by Stacia Wilson made it a 12-point game (55-43) going into the fourth quarter.
The Buffs got within nine several times in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter but a Bryan run gave the hosts a 66-50 edge with four minutes to go. A three-point play by Lauren Longmire and a three-pointer by Madi Runnels get Milligan back within single digits (68-60) in the final minute but Bryan emerged with a 69-60 victory.
Longmire paced the Buffs with 20 points on seven-of-14 shooting along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Galea scored 14 points and Wilson had nine points and seven rebounds. Runnels added seven points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
Bryan owned tight advantages in rebounding (35-33) and turnovers (16-15). The Loins shot 45.5 percent from the field while Milligan shot 33.3 percent. The Buffs made all 14 of their free throws but were limited to six-of-32 (18.8) percent from three.
The Buffs host Montreat on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
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