Milligan College, Tenn. (Jan. 18, 2012) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team picked up a 87-66 AAC victory over first year AAC member Columbia College on Wednesday night inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

   Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) opened the scoring as she drained a 3-pointer. Kelly scored six of Milligan's first eight points as the Buffaloes took an early 8-2 lead. Columbia responded with a 7-0 run that gave the Fighting Koalas a 9-8 lead four minutes into the game.

   The Buffaloes responded with a 10-2 run of their own that was sparked by four points from Jaimee Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.), and the Buffaloes extended their lead to 33-22 midway through the half. Columbia used a run of their own to pull within one, but Milligan scored the final eight points of the half to take a 42-32 lead into the break.

   Kelly ended the half with 11 points, and Hill tallied up seven points. As a team, Milligan ended the half, 16-of-28 (57%) from the field and 6-of-13 (46%) from the 3-point line. Columbia was 13-of-29 (45%) from the floor and 5-of-12 (42%) from the arc.

   In the second half, the Buffaloes used a 10-0 run four minutes into the game to take a 17 point lead. From there, Milligan maintained their advantage to take the victory.

   Kelly led the way with 18 points, while Ashlee Price (Rogersville, Tenn.) recorded 14 points. Alisha Mainer (Flag Pond, Tenn.) had 13 points. Chelsey Weddle (Hampton, Tenn.) and Hill had 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
   As a team, the Buffaloes were 30-of-57 (53%) from the field and 12-of-27 (44%) from the 3-point line, while Columbia finished the game 27-of-72 (38%) from the floor and 9-of-22 (41%) from the 3-point line.
 
   With the win, Milligan improves to 12-8 overall and 4-4 in conference action. The Fighting Koalas drop to 4-15 overall and 0-8 in AAC action.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Saturday, Jan. 21, when they travel to AAC newcomer Point University. Game time in East Point, Ga., is slated for 1 p.m.