KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Feb. 22, 2019) â€" Senior Cassidy Anderson scored a career high 19 points and senior Sarah Robinson followed with 17 points and eight rebounds, but the No. 21 Milligan College women's basketball team fell short, 72-63, to Tennessee Wesleyan University in the semifinals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament Friday.
 
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Milligan, which entered the day having won 10 of the last 11. It dropped Milligan's record this season to 26-6 (23-3 AAC), but the season may not done yet, as the Buffs can still qualify for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship.
 
WESLEYAN'S FOURTH-QUARTER RUN PROVES TOO MUCH
The game went back and forth and stayed close for three and a half quarters. Robinson converted an old-fashioned 3-point play just inside the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 56-56, but Tennessee Wesleyan answered over the next two minutes with a 7-0 run which decided the game. The Bulldogs hit a three to take the lead for the final time with roughly five minutes left then followed with defensive stops on Milligan's next three possessions.
 
Wesleyan's run made it 63-56, and the Bulldogs managed the game from there.
 
MILLIGAN LEADERS
Anderson and Robinson were the only Buffs in double figures, although six other Buffs were in the scoring column. Andi Lamb scored nine, Kaely Gose scored six, and Mackenzie Raizor scored four points and added 10 rebounds.
 
Milligan improved from behind the arc after Thursday's win which saw the Buffs only connect on one attempt. Anderson made five 3-pointers (5-for-9), and Emma Kate Brown and Kasey Gordon made one apiece.
 
PREVIOUS MEETINGS THIS SEASON
Both teams won at home. Milligan won its home game in decisive fashion, 79-61, behind 16 points and eight rebounds from Lamb. Tennessee Wesleyan followed nine days later with a 73-71 win in Athens. Robinson posted double-doubles in both meetings, leading Milligan with 16 points and 10 rebounds in meeting number two.
 
FOR TENNESSEE WESLEYAN
Hunter Simpson led all scorers with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jacobi Lynn scored 15 points as Tennessee Wesleyan won its fourth straight game to improve to 22-8 (18-8 AAC) and advance to the AAC championship game versus Bryan.
 
UP NEXT
With the loss, Milligan will look to continue its season at the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. The Buffs can qualify in one of two ways. First, if Bryan wins Saturday's AAC tournament title, Milligan would get the league's second automatic bid as the regular-season runner-up. Second, if Bryan does not win the tournament, Milligan could still qualify via an at-large bid. The No. 21 Buffs have been inside or near the NAIA top 25 since the first week of the season.