CLEVELAND — For the second game in a row, the Truett McConnell women's basketball team fought back from a double-digit deficit to force overtime but ultimately fell to Milligan, 71-67, Saturday afternoon in the Bear Cave.
The Lady Bears are now 12-12 overall and 8-8 in league play.
The Buffaloes got out to a big lead early in the game, leading by as many as 22 with 6:09 to play in the first half. Anna Murr, then, took the team on her back, hitting four threes in the next six minutes as part of a TMU run that cut the lead to seven at halftime.
TMU continued to fight in the third quarter as both teams traded baskets in the period. The Bears took their first lead of the game with 4:47 to play in regulation when Ariana Sanders hit a layup from the right side to take a 60-58 lead.
TMU and Milligan went back and forth with the Bears having a good look with four seconds to play, but a jump ball possession change took the chance away, sending the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, the Bears scored the first point, but the Buffaloes responded with five straight points to gain a lead they would not relinquish.
Sanders and Murr led the way for Truett McConnell with 17 points each. Quinlan Hughes added 15.
The Bears will look to snap the streak when they travel to Montreat on Wednesday. Tip time is set for 5:30 p.m.
