MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 16, 2016) â€" Milligan College's No.24 ranked women's basketball team played its first Appalachian Athletic Conference contest and first home game on Wednesday night. The Buffaloes hosted a Tennessee Wesleyan squad that upset the top ranked team in the NAIA, Marian University, in its last outing. Milligan responded to the challenge and defeated the Bulldogs 87-67.
 
Milligan (3-2, 1-0 AAC) took a 5-4 lead early and never trailed again. Sophomore Sarah Robinson helped spark the Buffalo offense in the first quarter, sinking two three pointers and assisting each Raizor twin on a three point shot. The Buffaloes led 27-21 at the end of the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter, a three pointer from Morgan Gose gave the Buffaloes a 45-35 lead, its biggest lead of the half. However, a series of Tennessee Wesleyan free throws in the final minute cut Milligan's lead back to six, resulting in a 45-39 halftime score.
 
In the second half, Robinson and senior Hayley Wyrick led the Buffaloes on a 10-0 run in the opening minutes to extend their lead to 16. Wyrick scored in the paint off of an assist from Robinson on the team's first possession of the third quarter. Wyrick hit a three on the Buffs' next possession, followed by a three from Robinson a few possessions later.
 
The Buffaloes outscored the Bulldogs 23-14 in the third quarter and never looked back. Milligan ran away with the game in the fourth, leading to the 87-67 victory.
 
Four Buffaloes reached double figures on the game. Robinson led all players with 20 points, followed by 17 from Wyrick, 16 from Gose, and 15 from Mackenzie Raizor. Gose provided a spark off the bench, going 5-of-12 from the field, making two three pointers, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe, and collecting six rebounds.
 
The Buffs return to action Saturday at St. Andrews University. Milligan returns home next Tuesday night to host Truett-McConnell.