MILLIGAN, Tenn. - On Wednesday night, inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse, the Milligan University women's basketball team opened Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play against the Brenau University (Ga.) Golden Tigers. Milligan incrementally increased their advantage through the battle, scoring a dominant 87-55 win over the visiting squad.

Milligan's opening period saw them shoot at a strong 8-of-17 (47.1%) clip, as they were able to hold the Golden Tigers to just a 5-of-17 (29.4%) mark in the quarter. With their defensive prowess, the Lady Buffs managed a 21-11 lead after the opening frame.

Brenau tried to battle back in the second, scoring 19 points in the period to equal their game-high total for a quarter. They only shot 7-of-20, though, as the Buffaloes tallied 24 points on an outstanding 9-of-16 shooting clip for their only stanza of greater than 50% from the field. 

Quantity did not equal quality in the third quarter for Brenau, as Milligan took seven fewer shots than the Golden Tigers, but the Buffs made two more field goals, overall. A 6-of-13 showing by the Buffs was combatted by a 4-of-20 mark for BU. Free throws also proved to play a factor in the frame, as the Buffs went 9-of-12 at the stripe and Brenau only made one out of three attempts.

With a 66-41 lead entering the final quarter, Milligan had no trouble extending it to 32 points at the contest's conclusion. The Buffaloes tallied 21 points on a 6-of-14 ratio from the field to close things out. Brenau hit only three of their 12 tries in the fourth. That led to a simple 87-55 final in the Lady Buffs' favor.

Lina Lyon and Naomi Atchley tied for the team lead in points with 14 apiece. They combined to shoot 13-of-18 in the win. Three more players were in double figures, with Caroline Krueger (11), Kenzie Campbell (10) and Makenzie Bremer (10) adding high scoring value to the cause.

The team had 21 assists in the bout, with four players tying for the lead on the team with three each. Lina Lyon, Semaj Clark, McKenna Myers and Krueger all dished out a trio. Four additional players dealt two assists apiece. Campbell, Jenna Hare, Lexi Ervin and Renna Lane were responsible for those.

Krueger supplied the second double-double of the campaign for the Buffs, as she hauled in 13 rebounds to lead the team. The team totaled 55 individual rebounds, with every player who touched the floor notching at least one. Clark had nine, while Lane and Atchley had five. Hare and Bremer had four each and Campbell, Ervin, Romy Bos and Nina Lovelace all brought in three.

Both Clark and Lovelace led the squad with a pair of thefts each. The team's other steal came from Myers, while Atchley rejected the only shot of the night for Milligan.

Next up for the Lady Buffs (2-3, 1-0 AAC) is another home non-conference battle against the No. 20-ranked University of Rio Grande (Ohio) RedStorm inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.