Banner Elk, N.C. (Nov. 16, 2011) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team was unable to rally for an early deficit as they fell 96-61 to NCAA Division II Lees-McRae College on Wednesday night inside Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
 
   Ashlee Price (Rogersville, Tenn.) and Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) gave the Buffaloes a 5-0 lead to open the game, and Milligan extended that lead to 9-5. However, the Bobcats went on a run to take a 22-14 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
 
   After Lees-McRae scored four straight points, the Buffaloes saw Megan Casteel (Greeneville, Tenn.) and Kelly score points. However, the Bobcats responded with a 9-0 run to push their lead to 35-18 with five minutes showing on the scoreboard. From that point, Milligan cut into the lead as they outscored Lees-McRae 15-7 in a three minute period, but trailed 48-33 at the break.
 
   In the first half, the Buffaloes were 12-of-30 (40%) from the field and 4-of-8 (50%) from the 3-point line, while Lees-McRae was 18-of-41 (44%) from the floor and 6-of-9 (67%) from behind the arc.
 
   After a Dorian Freeman (Augusta, Ga.) free throw, Johneshia Good (Johnson City, Tenn.) took advantage of a Price steal with a layup, and then added a pair of free throws to cut in the Lees-McRae lead. The Bobcats scored the next six points, but the Buffaloes responded when a 3-pointer from Alisha Mainer (Flag Pond, Tenn.) sparked an 8-0 run. However, Lees-McRae outscored Milligan 14-5 to extend their lead and secure the victory.
  
   Mainer led the way with 14 points, while Good had 13 points. Freeman and Kelly ended the game with nine points apiece. Freeman, Mainer and Good had six rebounds apiece.
 
   As a team, the Buffaloes were 22-of-58 (36%) from the field and 6-of-16 (37%) from behind the arc, and Lees-McRae was 36-of-74 (48%) from the floor and 8-of-13 (61%) from the 3-point line.
 
   With the loss, Milligan falls to 1-4 on the season.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Friday, Nov. 18, when they travel to Berea,Ky., to participate in the Berea College Classic. Milligan will square off against Alice Lloyd College on the opening day with game time set for 6 p.m.