Lourdes led the 24^th-ranked team in NAIA with under three minutes to play, but Milligan rallied to defeat the Gray Wolves 69-66 on Saturday afternoon in the Union College Classic held at Robsion Arena in Barbourville, Ky.
 
"We did a much better job of committing to our principles," head coach Summer Quesenberry said afterwards.  "We gave ourselves a chance at the end, but just couldn't finish.  The difference in the game was the amount of second chance opportunities we gave them, and we put them on the free throw line too much."
 
Milligan (2-2) jumped out to an early 16-6 lead, only to see the Gray Wolves score seven unanswered points, and pull within four, 17-13 after the opening 10 minutes.  The Buffaloes rebuilt their lead, pushing it to 28-18 with five minutes to play before halftime before the Gray Wolves held Milligan without a field goal the remainder of the quarter, and scored 14 of the final 15 points to take a 32-29 lead into intermission. 
 
The Gray Wolves increased their lead to nine, 41-32, after a basket by Elayna Ackerman (Fremont, Ohio/Ross H.S.) with 7:30 to play in the third.  Lourdes maintained the lead through the end of the period, 49-45.
 
The Buffaloes tied the game at 49 but Lourdes responded, pushing its advantage back to six, 59-53, after a basket by Molea Thompson (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison H.S.).  An 8-0 run over three minutes allowed Milligan to retake the lead with 1:35 to play, and they made four free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Ackerman led Lourdes with 20 points while Jesse Fidler (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold H.S.) added 18 points as the Gray Wolves shot 41.5% from the floor.  Daja Whiteside pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Mackenzie Raizor led Milligan (2-2) with 18 points while Sarah Robinson had 16 points and nine boards.  The Buffaloes shot just 34.8% for the night.
 
"Playing in the Union Classic should better prepare us for conference play on Wednesday," Quesenberry concluded.
 
Lourdes (0-5) will wrap up its road trip on Wednesday night, beginning Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play at Aquinas.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.