MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Feb. 5, 2018) â€" The Milligan College women's basketball team made a couple of late defensive stops to help seal a 56-53 win over Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Bluefield College Monday night at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
 
The win was Milligan's third straight and lifted the Buffs to 15-11 (11-9 AAC) as they have now won eight of their last 10 games. Bluefield, which was on a hot stretch itself having won its last three games, fell to 13-12 (10-10 AAC).
 
DEFENSE KEY
Milligan held Bluefield scoreless over the last 50-plus seconds of the contest to help secure the victory. During this stretch Bluefield had possession twice trailing 56-53 but was unable to score. On the first stop, Sarah Robinson forced a turnover with less than 10 seconds remaining, then despite Bluefield getting the ball back, Milligan forced a missed shot as time expired.
 
The win marked the sixth time this season, and second straight time, Milligan held its opponent to 56 points or less.
 
MILLIGAN'S CONTROL
Milligan never trailed in the contest and only saw the game tied one time, at 2-2 just 70 seconds into the game. Andi Lamb made a tough basket in the lane to make it 4-2 and the Buffs led the rest of the way.
 
Milligan's lead went out to as many as nine in the first quarter, 11 in the second quarter, and 12 in the third quarter. In fact, it was a 12-point game, 47-35, at the start of the fourth quarter before Bluefield started to chip away with a rally of its own.
 
CLOSING MINUTES
After the double-digit lead to start the fourth quarter, Milligan still had a three-possession lead with just under five minutes to go in regulation, 53-45. At that point, Bluefield went on a 4-0 run to make it a four-point game with three minutes left.
 
Kaely Gose answered Bluefield's quick run with a clutch basket from the top of the key to extend Milligan's lead back out to six, 55-49, with less than two minutes left. The Milligan defense would help finish the game off.
 
LEADERS
Robinson led all scorers with 22 points and six rebounds. She was 9-of-17 from the floor and added two assists, a block and a steal. Mackenzie Raizor was next with 13 points and six rebounds. Gose scored nine, Emma Kate Brown scored eight, and Lamb scored four to round out the scoring column.
 
Defensively, Milligan held Bluefield to 34.5 percent (20-58) from the field.
 
For Bluefield, Danae Cox was the only Ram to make it to double figures as she scored 12 points and added a game high nine rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan plays on the road for the next two games. First up will be Bryan College Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Dayton, Tennessee, followed by Montreat College Saturday at 2 p.m. in Montreat, North Carolina. Milligan's next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 5:30 p.m. against AAC member Brenau University.