Kevin Lewis
Elizabethton Star Sports

Milligan senior Leah Seevers goes up for two of her 15 points against Tennessee Wesleyan Photo by Danny Davis

Sparked by a 15-point performance from senior center Leah Seevers 15 points, Milligan defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 63-54 in Appalachian Athletic Conference women's basketball action at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Thursday evening.

Milligan (16-10, 13-4 AAC) tried to get the ball into immediately to esptablish inside position and to get its post players, Rachel Sitzlar and April Bell, into eventual foul trouble. Both Bell and Sitzlar had two fouls each in the first half.

Both teams came out aggressive defensively.

The lead changed hands three times in the first half. The Lady Buffs held their biggest lead of the half, seven points (21-14), after Seevers converted a free throw with 3:06 remaining (Bell's second foul).

The then Lady Bulldogs (15-9, 9-8 AAC) came roaring back, scoring seven unanswered points on two baskets by Ashley Hardaway and a trey by Lindsey Jackson that knotted the score at 21 with under two minutes left to the break.

Kari Stout missed a free throw with just over a minute left. Both teams tried to score the go-ahead basket but the shots wouldn't fall until Seevers put in a lay-up off of an inbounds pass from Elizabeth Henter at the buzzer to give Milligan a 23-21 halftime lead.

Both teams shot poorly from the field in the first half.

Milligan shot 27.6 percent (8-of-29) while Tennessee Wesleyan was at 31 percent (9-of-29).

To say the least, it was an ugly first half of basketball.

"We didn't execute well in the first half," said Seevers.

Milligan stayed in its man-to-man defense in the second half after it had been so effective in the first half.

Coupled with their strong rebounding, the Lady Buffs opened up an 11-point lead, 40-29, after Anderson's second trey at 14:40. Anderson was wide open often due to the Lady Buffs getting the ball into the post.

Suddenly, Milligan went scoreless for a little over five minutes as the Lady Bulldogs scored 10 unanswered points to cut the lead to one, 40-39 following a Bell lay-up at 10:07.

After Hali Sparks converted a free throw to give Milligan a 41-39 lead, Ashley Keck hit a trey to provide the Lady Bulldogs a 42-41 edge with 9:30 left.

The lead would change three times until Cox converted two free throws (Baughman foul) to knot the score at 46 with little over five minutes left.

The score would be knotted twice more. Both times on a Keck trey, the second time at 54 with 2:29 left in regulation.

Tennessee Wesleyan wouldn't score any more as the Lady Buffs responded with a 9-0 run down the stretch with treys by Leah Anderson, Kacie Letterman and a basket and a free throw by Seevers.

Milligan had three players score in double figures. In addition to Seevers' 15 points, Anderson and Baughman each scored 11. Anderson pulled down 10 rebounds and Seevers pulled down eight boards.

Milligan, as a team, outrebounded Tennessee Wesleyan 40-35, but decisively won the offensive rebounds, 16-7.

The Lady Buffs had 16 assists to Tennessee Wesleyan's nine, and seven turnovers to the opposition's 11.

Keck led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and nine rebounds. Mindy Cox scored 11 points.

It was to reiterate, an ugly game, but Milligan coach Rich Aubrey will take it.

"We needed it -- it was a big win for us," he said. "We finished with a 9-0 run -- we did well down the stretch. I was pleased with our rebounding, and we took care of the ball. Leah (Seevers) struggled to find her rhythm in the first half -- she found it in the second half and made some big baskets for us. Leah (Anderson ) played well. They doubled down on Seevers, and that opened up shots for Anderson. I was pleased with our defense," said Aubrey.

The Lady Buffs play their last home game of the season on Saturday against Montreat College in another AAC game. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.