MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Dec. 7, 2020) – Malarie Tallent led the Buffaloes with a career-high 15 points while freshman Jaycie Jenkins tallied her fifth double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but the Milligan University women's basketball team lost a close game at home, 68-60, against Union Monday night in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The game went down as a nonconference game between the two Appalachian Athletic Conference teams.
Jenkins' double-double was her second straight and third in the last four games.
Milligan (3-6, 3-3 AAC) looked poised to defeat the AAC's preseason runner-up but went scoreless over the last 2:27 as Union (3-1, 2-0 AAC) finished the game on an 11-0 run.
In the box score
Eight Buffs made their way into the scoring column, with Tallent and Jenkins leading the way with 15 and 14, respectively. Cali Weddle followed next with nine points, and Halie Padgett and Hannah Wyrick both scored six. Wyrick's points all came from the perimeter as she knocked down a couple of big 3-pointers early in the second half.
For Union, Brooke Hammonds led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Second-half swings
The game featured only three ties but with eight lead changes remained close the whole way. The fourth quarter alone included two ties and three lead changes, and both teams earned big 3-point plays in the closing minutes.
Jenkins knocked down a triple from the corner at the 3:35 mark to give the Buffs their last lead, swinging a one-point deficit into a two-point lead. One minute later, Teal Davis scored a big basket underneath, drawing a foul and converting the and-one to make it 60-57, Milligan, but that would end the scoring for the Buffs. Hammonds made two free throws to give Union the final lead with 1:46 left, then she made an and-one herself 40 seconds later to put the Bulldogs up four.
Union then finished the game at the free-throw line, making all seven of their attempts in the final two minutes.
Up next
Milligan hits the road for the last two games of the fall semester. First up will be a trip to Pikeville, Kentucky, for a nonconference game against the Pikeville Bears on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. The Buffs will then finish the fall with an AAC game at Montreat on Saturday.
