Athens, Tenn. (Feb. 9, 2013) --- The Milligan College women's basketball team took control of the Appalachian Athletic Conference race with a 68-52 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon in Athens, Tenn.
 
   Tracy Hardiman (Maryville, Tenn.) opened the scoring with a 3-pointer as she sparked a 7-0 run for the Buffaloes, and a Johneshia Good (Johnson City, Tenn.) 3-pointer gave the Buffaloes a 13-5 lead five minutes into the game. The Lady Bulldogs closed the gap to three points, but Milligan responded as they ran out to a 21-12 lead midway through the half.
 
   Kayla Kelly (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Hardiman added baskets to extend the Milligan lead to 26-14, and the Buffaloes held a 28-18 lead at the half. Milligan ended the first half 11-of-31 (36%) from the field and 4-of-18 (23%) from behind the arc, while the Lady Bulldogs were 8-of-29 (28%) from the floor and 2-of-12 (17%) from behind the 3-point line.
 
   Hardiman and Kelly sparked a 7-0 Milligan run to open the second half, and the Buffaloes maintained a 39-20 lead five minutes into the half. Jamiee Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Allison Jones (Morristown, Tenn.) countered Tennessee Wesleyan baskets as Milligan held a 44-27 lead midway through the second half.
 
   The Lady Bulldogs closed the gap to 46-35 with just over eight minutes to play, but Good answered with five straight points to extend the Milligan lead. Milligan maintained the advantage until Tennessee Wesleyan trimmed the gap to 10 points with just less than two minutes remaining. Kelly, however, secured the game from the free throw line for the Buffaloes.
 
   Good led the way with 23 points, while Kelly had 11 points. Jones finished the game with 10 points. Hardiman ended the game with nine points, while Hill had a team high eight rebounds.
 
   As a team, the Buffaloes finished the game 22-of-58 (38%) from the field and 8-of-28 (29%) from the 3-point line. Tennessee Wesleyan ended the game 19-of-65 (29%) from the floor and 5-of-27 (19%) from behind the arc.
 
   With the win, Milligan improves to 14-2 in AAC action and 21-8 overall, while the Lady Bulldogs falls to 13-3 in conference play and 16-9 overall.
 
   The Buffaloes will close out the home portion of the 2012-13 schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 13, as they host Columbia College. Game time inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse is set for 6:30 p.m.