BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2015) â€" Hayley Wyrick continued the outstanding start to her season by reaching double-digit scoring for the fifth consecutive game, leading the Milligan College women's basketball team to its fifth straight victory and a 71-55 win over Alice Lloyd College Friday evening at Union College's Robsion Arena.
 
Wyrick, who has now scored 16 or more points in four of the Buffaloes five games, led Milligan with a season-high 24 points. Senior Allison Jones has also had a good start to the season, netting 11 points for her fourth double-digit effort on the young season and adding a team high in both rebounds (eight) and assists (four). Wyrick was next with six boards, while 10 Buffs entered the scoring column and six players scored six or more points for Milligan. Lastly, Wyrick (11-15), Jones (5-6) and Kelly Barnett (4-4) were all strong from the free throw line as well.
 
Milligan (5-0) has now won six straight games against the Eagles. Alice Lloyd fell to 1-3 on the year after falling to No. 19 Union College by three, 64-61, in a matchup that came down to the final horn earlier in the week.
 
In Friday's game, baskets by Sarah Robinson, Jones, Lindsee Price and a 3-pointer by Courtney Wilson made up a 9-0 Milligan run that the Buffs used beginning three and a half minutes into the game to turn a 6-6 tie into a 15-6 advantage.
 
Next, beginning with two minutes to go in the quarter, Milligan had another big run to pull away as five points by Wyrick and a score by Caitlyn Cain made up a 7-0 Buff run to close the quarter and put Milligan ahead by 13 at 24-11. Wyrick led both teams with seven points in the opening quarter. Jones added six points and three assists, and Robinson had four points. Barnett contributed with two assists in the quarter.
 
In addition to the good offense, Milligan also demonstrated a strong defensive effort in the first quarter, forcing six Eagles turnovers, including three on the Buffs 9-0 run early in the frame.
 
In the second quarter, Alice Lloyd exhibited a much stronger defense then it did in the first, holding the Buffs to 11 points and forcing eight Milligan turnovers, including six on a 9-2 run to begin the quarter and cut the Buffs' lead down to six at 26-20 with just under four minutes to go in the half.
 
A 5-0 run by Milligan ending on a three by Price opened the lead back up to 11 at 31-20. The Eagles then responded with five straight points before Milligan ultimately went into the locker room leading 33-25.
 
Milligan came out for the second half seemingly on a mission, scoring the first 11 points of the third quarter and outscoring the Eagles 23-10 overall.
 
After the Buffs entered the final quarter with their largest lead of the game at 21 (56-35), Alice Lloyd proceeded to score eight straight points to cut Milligan's lead to 13 at 56-43 with seven and a half minutes to go in the game. The Eagles then got within 12 at 59-47 and within 11 at 63-52 with three minutes left on the clock, but that was the closest they would get as Milligan scored seven straight points and closed the game on an 8-3 run to win it 71-55.
 
Alice Lloyd was led by Taylor Arthur's double-double effort of 25 points and 10 rebounds. India Haiston-James, who scored 11 points with 10 rebounds, was the only other player in double figures for Alice Lloyd.
 
The Buffs continue play at the Union College Classic at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, against Midway University, which the Buffs defeated by 16 on Tuesday earlier this week. Milligan then travels to No. 23 Tennessee Wesleyan College on Wednesday, Nov. 18, for a 5:30 p.m. showdown against their first ranked opponent of the season.