Milligan College, Tenn. (Jan. 5, 2013) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team held off a second half rally to take a 54-39 Appalachian Athletic Conference victory over Reinhardt University on Saturday afternoon inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
 
   Milligan jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with 3-pointers from seniors Tracy Hardiman (Maryville, Tenn.) and Johneshia Good (Johnson City, Tenn.) The Buffaloes extended their lead to 10-2 seven minutes into the game with a 3-pointer from freshman Callie Cox (Knoxville, Tenn.). After the Lady Eagles hit their first field goal of the half with 12:52 left in the frame, Milligan went on a 7-2 run capped by a Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) jumper to take a 17-6 lead.
 
   The Buffaloes maintained their advantage over the next five minutes of the half as they held a 22-13 lead. Milligan held Reinhardt scoreless over the final three minutes of the half as Good scored six points and Kelly added three points in the stretch to give Milligan a 31-16 lead at the half.
 
   Good led the way in the half for the Buffaloes with nine points, while Kelly ended the frame with eight points. As a team, Milligan was 9-of-27 (33%) from the field and 5-of-14 (38%) from the 3-point line. Reinhardt ended the half 6-of-24 (25%) from the floor and 2-of-8 (25%) from behind the arc.
 
   Jaimee Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) opened the half with a 3-pointer, but the Lady Eagles went on a 13-0 run over a seven minute stretch to close the Milligan lead to 33-29. Hill stopped the run with a jumper and Kelly added a free throw to give the Buffaloes a 36-29 lead midway through the half.
 
   The Lady Eagles closed the gap back to two points, but freshman Allison Jones (Morristown, Tenn.) scored on a pair of free throws and Hardiman hit a 3-pointer to extend the Buffaloes lead back out to 41-35 with 5:24 left in the game. After a pair of Jones free throws, Hill scored five points to put Milligan up by 11 points. In the closing minutes, the Buffaloes secured the win from the free throw line.
 
   Kelly and Hill led the way with 13 points apiece, Good and Hardiman finished the game with nine points apiece. Dorian Freeman (Augusta, Ga.) had a team high eight rebounds.
 
   As a team, Milligan finished the game 15-of-57 (26%) from the floor and 6-of-23 (26%) from behind the arc. Reinhardt was 15-of-52 (29%) from the field and 4-of-17 (24%) from the 3-point line.
 
   With the win, Milligan improves to 4-0 in conference play and 11-5 overall.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 8, as they host AAC foe Bryan College. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m., inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.