WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - On Thursday night on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), the (RV) Milligan University women's basketball squad matched up with the No. 24-ranked Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) Blue Raiders for the Buffaloes' first contest of the 2025-26 slate in their first of two battles at the Patriot Classic. Following a slow start on offense, the Buffaloes battled but could not hold down a potent LWC attack, falling 81-67.

Quarter number one saw the Lady Buffs come out of the gate slowly on offense, as they scored just 10 points in the period on a 4-of-13 (30.8%) clip from the floor. Conversely, LWC jumped out to their eventual 22-10 lead after the quarter having shot 9-of-19 from the field. They outdueled the Buffs on the glass, holding a 10-6 rebound margin with three quarters remaining.

The second stanza saw Milligan get their shooters in rhythm a bit more, as they scored a 7-of-15 (46.7%) period shooting the rock. The squad still struggled to make the long-range jumper, as they made only one in the quarter and shot just 2-of-12 in the half. Lindsey Wilson was able to lead the period 19-15 over Milligan and shot the orange at greater than 50% at 8-of-14. The Lady Buffs entered the intermission with a 41-25 deficit to trim down.

Milligan would end up doubling their first-half tally in the third quarter alone, shooting at 8-of-14 as a squad and 6-of-6 from the free-throw stripe. The Blue Raiders nearly matched their output, however, as they retained the lead at 63-50 with one quarter left. The Buffaloes did outscore LWC in a period for the first time in the bout, 25-22.

A sluggish beginning to the fourth quarter by both offenses cut down the amount of time available for the Buffs to mount a comeback. All told, Milligan shot 5-of-13 from the field and the Blue Raiders made just 4-of-14 in the period. Free throws made the difference for LWC in the fourth, as they sunk 10 of their 15 tries. At the final buzzer, Milligan fell to Lindsey Wilson, 81-67. 

Semaj Clark began her season with an efficient 20-point night. She knocked down nine shots on 16 tries. She drained 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. McKenna Myers had a near perfect shooting night, as she totaled a 5-of-6 line from the floor. She connected on her only three-point attempt, as well. Kenzie Campbell was also in double figures as a scorer, tallying 13 points on a 4-of-6 shooting clip. She led the team with three made three-point jumpers. 

The team dished out 13 assists in the bout, with Clark pacing the squad with a trio of dimes. Jenna Hare, Renna Lane, Callie Reeder and Naomi Atchley all supplied two and Campbell and Makenzie Bremer had an assist apiece.

Bremer hauled in eight backboards in her debut as a Buffalo. The next highest total was four by both Clark and Campbell. Lane snagged three, while a quartet of Hare, Atchley, Lexi Ervin and Caroline Krueger retrieved two shots each. Myers, Reeder and Lina Lyon all grabbed one to round out the list.

Just two steals and one block were recorded by Milligan in the loss, with Clark being responsible for one of each, and Lane snatching the other theft.

There will not be much time to mull over the result of this one, as the Lady Buffs continue their season with a matchup against the No. 25-ranked Patriots of University of the Cumberlands at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning.