Montgomery, W.V. (Jan. 14, 2013) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team came up short in nonconference action on Monday night as they fell 74-72 to NAIA D-I West Virginia Tech in Montgomery, W.V.

Johneshia Good (Johnson City, Tenn.) opened the scoring for the Buffaloes with a 3-pointer to spark an early 7-0 run, but the Golden Bears battled back to tie the game at 7-7 four minutes in. Jamiee Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Tracy Hardiman (Maryville, Tenn.) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help Milligan extend their lead 17-11 with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half. WVU-Tech battled back as they outscored the Buffaloes 15-4 over the final 10 minutes to take a 34-25 lead into halftime.

Good led the way with eight points in the first half. As a team, the Buffaloes were 8-of-25 (32%) from the field and 5-of-14 (36%) from behind the arc. The Golden Bears ended the half 13-of-40 (33%) from the floor and 4-of-13 (31%) from the 3-point line.

In the second half, Hill hit back-to-back jumpers to trim the Milligan deficit back to single digits, but WVU-Tech extended the margin back to 15 points five minutes into the half. After a Good 3-pointer, Chelsey Weddle (Hampton, Tenn.) hit a pair of jumpers and Allison Jones (Morristown, Tenn.) pulled the Buffaloes within three points midway through the second half.

The Golden Bears extended their lead back out to seven points, and Milligan cut it to three points on a Dorian Freeman (Augusta, Ga.) 3-pointer with five minutes on the scoreboard. In the closing minutes, Freeman hit a jumper with 2:08 left to pull Milligan within 71-69, and she hit a 3-pointer with 1:07 left to cut the gap to 73-72. However, the Buffaloes were unable to convert a pair of shots in the closing seconds.

Good recorded 20 points and eight rebounds. Freeman ended the game with 15 points, and Hill had 13 points. Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished with seven points.

As a team, the Buffaloes were 26-of-61 (43%) from the field and 9-of-25 (36%) from behind the arc. WVU-Tech was 29-of-76 (38%) from the floor and 8-of-28 (29%) from behind the 3-point line.

With the loss, Milligan falls to 13-7 overall.

The Buffaloes return to Appalachian Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 16, as they travel to Columbia (S.C.) College. Game time in Columbia, S.C., is set for 6:30 p.m.