Milligan College, Tenn. (Nov. 2, 2010) --- The 24th ranked Milligan College Lady Buffs basketball team opened their 2010-11 season with a 92-59 victory over Tennessee Temple University on Tuesday night inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

The opening minutes of the game saw neither team able to pull away. A 6-0 Lady Buffs run sparked by a Megan Casteel (Greeneville, TN) 3-pointer gave Milligan an 18-12 lead midway through the half. The Lady Crusaders pulled back within one point, but Heather Mandela (Fairfax, VA) started an 11-2 Milligan run to put the Lady Buffs up by 10 with five minutes remaining in the period. Tennessee Temple was unable to cut the Milligan lead before the half as the Lady Buffs led 40-30 at the break.

The second half saw the Lady Buffs continue to slowly add to their lead. Milligan led 62-48 midway through the second half, and outscored Tennessee Temple 52-29 in the final period.

Mandela led the Lady Buffs with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Casteel tossed in 12 points for Milligan, while Dorian Freeman (Augusta, GA) recorded 10 points and seven rebounds. Victoria Dailey (Knoxville, TN) and Alisha Mainer (Flag Pond, TN) added nine points apiece.

“It was a good way to start the season,” Head Coach Rich Aubrey said. “Everyone has worked hard, and we are really excited about our freshman and the depth of our team. That makes us able to play the style we are playing. The team has adjusted quickly to the faster tempo, and they are taking to it.”

With the win, the Lady Buffs start the year off with a 1-0 record.

Milligan returns to action when they travel to North Canton, Ohio, for the Walsh University Classic. The Lady Buffs open the event against Shawnee State University on Friday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.