MILLIGAN, Tenn.— The Montreat women's basketball team traveled to Tennessee to take on the Milligan University Buffaloes in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest Tuesday afternoon. Though the Cavs' defense forced several turnovers, the Buffaloes took the game by a 63-48 scoreline. With the result, the Cavaliers moved to an 8-4 (6-4 AAC) record for the year.
 
Milligan (9-4, 7-2 AAC) used the longball to establish a big lead early in the opening frame. Thanks to a trio of makes from three on four attempts, the Buffaloes jumped out to an 11-3 advantage over the Cavaliers midway through the first quarter. After connecting on just one of its initial eight tries from the field, Montreat responded with back-to-back buckets; however, five drained shots from behind the arc by MU helped the home side lead through 10 minutes. Though the Buffaloes shot 50 percent overall and 62.5 percent from three, points from seven different Cavs in addition to seven forced turnovers allowed the visitors to pull within four (18-14) after the first.
 
Mariya Williams scored three quick points to start the second, bringing the Cavaliers within a single point (18-17) and capping a 9-1 run. Montreat turnovers led to transition baskets for Milligan, who promptly expanded its edge to 10 halfway into the frame. Three separate Cavs registered makes over the remainder of the period as the visitors trimmed their deficit to five at the break (29-24).
 
The Cavaliers led the tight battle in shooting percentage (34.5 percent to 34.4 percent) as the Buffaloes cooled from the field. Montreat recorded its second make from three (2-9 3pt FG), while Milligan drained just a single three in the latter 10 minutes of the first half to shoot 33.3 percent (6-18 3pt FG) in the half. The home team also held slight advantages in rebounds (17-14), assists (8-4) and blocks (3-1).
 
Williams captained the Cavs with five first-half points, while Makayla Thompson and Ja'Liah Wilson each added four as eight Cavaliers scored through 20 minutes. Wilson led the team with four boards.
 
A trio of makes out of the gate in the third paired with two steals fueled a 6-0 stretch that gave Montreat its first lead of the competition (30-29) a mere 1:16 into the quarter. The teams traded leads four times during a span of the ensuing minute and a half before a 10-0 run by the Buffaloes put the home side up nine (41-32) in the middle of the frame. Six points in the period from Thompson kept the Cavs close, but Milligan outscored the visitors 17-14 to lead 46-38 with 10 minutes left in the contest.
 
After the Cavaliers cut the gap to six (48-42) with 8:28 remaining in the matchup, Milligan took advantage of a Montreat scoring drought, expanding the spread to 13 due to seven consecutive points. The drought from the field hurt the Cavs, who were outscored in all four quarters for the first time this season, as the team dropped the matchup by 15.
 
The Cavaliers made just three of 18 shots in the fourth to shoot 28.8 percent (19-66 FG) overall and 17.6 percent (3-17 3pt FG) from three. Montreat also struggled from the free throw line, converting on 43.8 percent (7-16 FT) of tries from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Milligan closed the game with a 7-for-11 performance (63.6 percent) in the final frame to shoot 42.9 percent (24-56 FG). The Buffaloes made 10 of 28 3s (35.7 percent) and five of eight free throws (62.5 percent). Though the Cavs won the battle in the paint (32-28), in turnovers forced (20-8) and in points off turnovers (12-5), a 50-34 advantage on the boards helped MU seal its victory. The home team also shared the ball more effectively, notching 18 assists to Montreat's eight.
 
Thompson led the Cavaliers with 12 points, while Williams scored eight and snatched a team-best six rebounds. Virginia Edmondson added nine points in the loss.

"I was happy with our defensive effort tonight," stated head coach Josh Thompson. "We are getting better and that's the most important thing right now. I'm proud of our start to the season and am looking forward to next semester."
 
Women's basketball travels to USC Upstate for an exhibition contest tomorrow night. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.