BLUEFIELD, Va. (Feb. 19, 2015) â€" Despite hitting nine 3-pointers in the second half, the final two shots from the Milligan College women's basketball team would not go as they fell to Bluefield College 62-59 in Appalachian Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening.
 
Both Callie Cox and Allison Jones took shots within the final minute after two huge turnovers gave the Buffs a chance at tying the game, but the game-tying shots would elude their grasp.
 
Milligan (10-17, 9-10) fell to seventh in the AAC, switching spots with Bluefield (14-15, 10-10) who locked down sixth with the win. Both teams will be featured in the same bracket in the AAC tournament which will take place next week in Kingsport, Tennessee, providing a potential opportunity for both teams to meet once more before the season is over.
 
Milligan controlled the lead for much of the first half, after a 3-point shot from Lindsee Price put them up by five in the first two minutes. The Buffs went up by as much as eight, but a resilient Bluefield would not give up, and as the final seconds ticked away at the half, the Rams took the lead 27-26.
 
The second half was an evenly-matched battle, featuring 10 lead changes and seven ties. With just under two minutes remaining, Valerie Lebedeva hit a three for the Rams, giving them the lead of the same value. Chelsey Weddle, who led the Buffs with 18 points and eight rebounds, hit a two on the other side to answer, but Destiny Tolliver matched her with a two of her own.
 
With 1:23 remaining, the Buffs forced two turnovers on throw-ins, but they would be to no avail as the Rams went on to win 62-59.
 
Both teams were perfect from behind the free throw line with the Buffs hitting 4-of-4 and the Rams 9-of-9. Bluefield's Tolliver led all scorers with 21 points, adding eight rebounds and a block.
 
For Milligan, Cox and Hayley Wyrick joined Weddle with double-digit scoring, adding 14 and 10 points respectively, and Price earned six assists with five rebounds.
 
Only one game remains for the Buffs before the conference tournament. They will host Montreat College at home on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. in a doubleheader with the men. The senior players from both teams will be honored in between games.