Lake Wales, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2011) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team saw Dorian Freeman (Augusta, Ga.) hit a lay-up with 3.4 seconds remaining to lift the Buffaloes past Warner University 71-69 on Saturday afternoon in Lake Wales, Fla.

The Buffaloes started the game on a roll as they blasted out to a 23-5 lead in the game's first seven minutes. However, the Royals slowly cut into the Milligan lead as they trimmed it back to single digits with five minutes remaining in the frame. Senior Alisha Mainer (Flag Pond, Tenn.) returned the Milligan lead back to double-digits with six straight points as the Buffaloes took a 41-30 lead into the half.

The Royals started the second half as they scored 16 straight points after a Milligan free throw to take a 46-42 lead with 16 minutes remaining in the game, and then extended their advantage to six points a few moments later. Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) drained a 3-pointer to pull Milligan within two points with just under 10 minutes to play.

The teams traded points over the next five minutes, and then Mainer lifted Milligan to the lead with 4:49 left, but the Royals tied the game again with 1:56 left. After each team was unable to convert offensive possessions, Freeman came up with a steal, and then hit a lay-up off a feed from Kelly with 3.4 seconds remaining. The Milligan

Mainer led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Ashlee Price (Rogersville, Tenn.) tallied up 13 points, six rebounds and added four assists. Kelly ended the night with 11 points. Freeman had nine points and eight rebounds.

As a team, Milligan was 28-of-61 (46%) from the floor and 6-of-16 (38%) from the 3-pointer. Warner ended the night 23-of-62 (37%) from the field and 7-of-17 (41%) from behind the arc.

With the win, Milligan improves to 9-5 overall. It is the Buffaloes' fourth straight victory and have won seven of their last eight games.

Milligan returns to action in the new year as they host Bluefield College on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m., inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.