COLUMBIA, S.C. (Nov. 25, 2014) â€" Chelsey Weddle's would-be game-winning 3-pointer struck off the back iron as time expired, and the Milligan College women's basketball team took a hard-fought 68-66 loss to Columbia College Tuesday night in Appalachian Athletic Conference action.
 
The loss set Milligan back to 1-7 (1-4 AAC) and marked the team's fifth loss of the season to be decided by five points or less. It was also the second straight to be decided by two points or less and lowered Milligan's average margin of defeat to 2.25 points. Columbia improved to 6-3 (3-1 AAC) which put the Koalas in a tie for second place in league standing.
 
"[Chelsey] was pressured but did a good job creating an open look as time was running out," Head Coach Rich Aubrey said. "It just didn't go in."

Weddle recorded her third double-double of the season as she collected a season high in points (19) and a career high in rebounds (16). Weddle's 19 points led all scorers, and Hayley Wyrick followed close behind with 18 points.
 
Milligan faced a two-point deficit, 68-66, with 15.3 seconds left without the ball but still managed to have one last attempt to win it. After the Buffaloes forced a turnover on the defensive end, Weddle had an open look from the wing that crashed off the back of the rim and out for a long rebound as the final horn sounded.
 
Columbia closed the game on a 4-0 run as two Callie Cox made free throws inside of two minutes put Milligan up 66-64. Columbia answered with two made free throws a couple of possessions later to tie it, then had the winning basket on a layup with just less than one minute left.
 
Milligan shot 34.5 percent (20-58) from the field but converted 7-of-14 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. Columbia matched the Buffaloes from the field, going 20-of-58 but made only three 3-point baskets on eight attempts.
 
Up next, Milligan will face St. Catharine College on the road on Monday, Dec. 1 before returning home for the next two games. The first of those will be Wednesday, Dec. 3 against Truett-McConnell College, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The men's game will follow at 7:30 p.m.