Milligan College, Tenn. (Nov. 6, 2012) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team held off a late Lees-McRae rally to hold on for a 62-57 nonconference victory on Tuesday night inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
 
   After the Lady Bobcats took an early lead, Dorian Freeman (Augusta, Ga.) made back-to-back baskets and Johneshia Good (Johnson City, Tenn.) added a jumper to give Milligan a 9-7 lead five minutes into the game. The Buffaloes extended their lead to eight points capped off by a Tracy Hardiman (Maryville, Tenn.) jumper midway through the half.
 
   Milligan maintained the advantage for the next five minutes, then used points from Allison Jones (Morristown, Tenn.) and Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) to take a 20-12 lead with four minutes left to play in the half. However, Lees-McRae slowly trimmed the gap, but Milligan held a 25-21 lead at the break.
 
   Freeman led the way for Milligan in the first half with nine points. As a team, the Buffaloes were 11-of-33 (33%) from the field and 2-of-8 (255) from the 3-point line, while the Lady Bobcats were 9-of-34 (27%) from the floor and 2-of-12 (17%) from behind the arc.
 
   In the second half, Milligan quickly extended their lead to nine points with baskets from Hardiman and Kelly. Lees-McRae, however, trimmed the Milligan lead to 32-31 five minutes into the period. After the Buffaloes pushed the lead back to six points with a Hardiman 3-pointer and pair of free throws, the Lady Bobcats closed the gap back one point, but Jones gave Milligan a 44-38 lead with 10 minutes remaining with a 3-pointer.
 
   The Buffaloes continued to maintain the advantage until the Bobcats pulled within two points with five minutes left. The teams traded baskets, but the Lady Bobcats cut the Milligan lead to 57-56 with two minutes to play. However, Kelly scored five straight points for Milligan to secure the win in the closing minute.
 
   Kelly led the way with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Freeman had 11 points. Jones finished the evening with 10 points. Hardiman ended the night with nine points, and Jaimee Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) had a team high four assists.
 
   As a team, Milligan was 23-of-65 (35%) from the field and 6-of-19 (32%) from the 3-point line, while Lees-McRae ended the game 25-of-72 (34%) from the field and 4-of-20 (20%) from behind the arc.
 
   With the win, Milligan improves to 1-1 on the season.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Friday, Nov. 9, as they travel to Alice Lloyd College. Game time in Pippa Passes, Ky., is slated for 7 p.m.