WEST PALM BEACH, FL (December 16, 2006) --- The Milligan College women’s basketball team suffered a 69-53 loss against No. 23 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) University in the opening day of the College Bookstores of America Lady Seahawk Tournament at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Milligan started the game with a lay up from Hali Sparks (Erwin, Tenn.), only to see Cardinal Stritch answer with their own lay up to tie the contest at 2. After Rikki Baughman (Elizabethton, Tenn.) made both of her free throws three minutes into the contest, Milligan held a 4-2 lead over Cardinal Stritch. Just one minute later, Jenna Rickert hit two free throws to give Cardinal Stritch a 5-4 lead.

Cardinal Stritch went on to build a 13 point lead over the Lady Buffs during the half. Milligan would cut the lead down to eight points, 31-23 with 1:15 remaining after Brit White (Chuckey, Tenn.) hit a jump shot. Cardinal Stritch would add three free throws to take a 34-23 lead into the halftime break.

A three-point basket from Leah Anderson (Lexington, Ky.) capped a 12-3 run for the Lady Buffs over the first 3:30 of the second half to cut the deficit down to 37-35. Cardinal Stritch answered with a three from Rickert to push the lead back to five points.   

With 13:30 left, White hit another three pointer to put the Lady Buffs in front 42-40. After a five-point outburst from Cardinal Stritch, Kara Monk (Harriman, Tenn.) added a three pointer to tie the contest 45-45 with ten minutes left. After another tie with less than nine minutes left, 47-47, Cardinal Stritch took the lead with a three point basket from Jeni Caldwell and held on for the win.

Anderson led the Lady Buffs with 11 points while Baughman and Sparks added ten each. Baughman also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds.

Marianna Herrera and Caldwell and scored 14 points apiece while Rickert accounted for 13 points for Cardinal Stritch.  

Milligan out rebounded Cardinal Stritch 40-34 in the contest, but Cardinal Stritch was 17-of-19 from the free throw line, compared to Milligan’s 9-of-12. From the field, Milligan shot 33.3 percent (19-of-57) while Cardinal Stritch shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54).

With the results, Milligan now stands at 3-6 while Cardinal Stritch moves to 11-2 this year. The Lady Buffs will play host Northwood Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. while Cardinal Stritch and Iowa Wesleyan College will play in the championship contest. Iowa Wesleyan defeated Northwood 97-63 in the other contest Saturday afternoon.