Another Tight Road Loss for the Eagles

David FInney

Elizabethton, TN - After just playing on Saturday afternoon, the Eagles were back on the road to make up a game that had been postponed from earlier in the schedule. A win on the road versus a conference opponent would be huge and get Reinhardt back on the right track, however, road wins are always hard to come by in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. 

Abi Haynes would start the scoring for the Eagles on a quick layup in the first few seconds of the game, but it would be answered just as fast by Milligan. This gave an idea of how the scoring was going to be on the evening as both teams kept it tight. A layup by Marlie Townley around the six-minute mark gave Reinhardt a three-point lead, but it was quickly closed down again and it would stay this way the remainder of the first quarter. The Eagles were getting balanced scoring from Haynes, Catherine Shope, Ashley Woodroffe, and Symone Williams. The first quarter would end with Reinhardt down 20-17.

The second quarter would start off slow as only two points were scored in the first two minutes. Reinhardt would finally cut into the narrow Buffalo lead on layups by Woodroffe and Julia Craft. The scoring would stay tight just as the first quarter, but Milligan was able to open up a four-point lead with around five minutes left. Then just inside five minutes left in the first half, a Buffalo player hit a big three-porter to extend their lead to seven points. Haynes and Woodroffe would keep the Eagles within striking distance on a series of layups towards the end, but Milligan would still take a five-point lead into halftime, 39-35.

This game was proving that these were two equal teams battling and a made three-pointer or free throws were going to be the deciding factor. The Eagles would continue to try to play catch up on the narrow four-point lead during the third quarter. They were able to make dents in the lead at times, however, it seemed every time Reinhardt would pull close - Milligan would make a timely shot to keep their lead. Craft and Haynes hit two back-to-back three-pointers just inside the five-minute mark to temporarily narrow the gap, but Milligan was able to extend the lead again to seven to run out the third quarter frustrating the Eagles.

Haynes was determined to not let Milligan run away with the game as she kept her consistent scoring pace. Milligan was able to get a ten-point lead early in the fourth, but a layup by Haynes, Townley, and Tarrah Gibson kept the lead at just six. This was well in striking distance for the Eagles to get back in the game and what was once a ten-point lead was brought to just one point on a layup by Woodroffe at 70-69 just inside two minutes left in the game. The backbreaker came with about 40 seconds remaining in the game when Milligan hit a long three-pointer, which got their lead back to six points and they would finish out the game at the free-throw line, 78-69.

It was not a bad effort for the Eagles, but they could never get past the narrow Milligan lead for most of the game. Abi Haynes would lead the Eagles in scoring at 23 points and Ashley Woodroffe had a good game with 14 points. The Eagles desperately need their talented scorers to step up at the same time and they can play with anyone in the conference.

The Eagles will return to action this Wednesday afternoon versus Point University where Reinhardt will look to turn the tables from their narrow loss at Point last week.  The game is at 5:30 pm at the Brown Athletic Center.