GREENSBORO, N.C. - Briahna Scott (Graham, N.C.) delivered a standout performance with a career-high six steals, along with eight points and six rebounds, while
Taylor Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.) posted a season-high nine points. Both players emerged as key factors in the Guilford College women's basketball game against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Saturday night at the Ragan-Brown Field House on Jack Jensen Court during the Springhill Suites Guilford Holiday Classic.
This marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams, with the Eagles emerging victorious to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Quakers leave with a 8-2 record on the season, remaining at 2-1 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) as the Eagles rise to a 7-3 mark. With this result, the Quakers now face their first loss versus a non-ODAC opponent since Dec. 30, 2023.
The standout Quakers were McMillan, who delivered 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals, shot 50 percent from the field, and went 5-6 from the free-throw line, Bayer, who stepped up late and demanded 15 points on 7-12 shooting in just 20 minutes, and Perry, who added ten points while going 2-3 from three.
Studs for the Eagles were Lauryn Milne, who had a double-double performance with 15 points paired with a dozen rebounds along with a block, Grace Knupp, with 12 points, a block, and five boards, and Kailee Meeker with nine points, three assists, and four snags.
In the first, Wisconsin-La Crosse jumped to an early lead behind the efforts of Milne and Meeker. Milne's inside presence was pivotal, scoring multiple buckets and adding free throws to extend the lead. As for GC, McMillan and Scott emerged as key players during this stretch. McMillan's early layup kept the team on the board, while Scott's late surge narrowed the gap.
Anna Giannopoulou (Athens, Greece), who finished with nine points, and
Jael Hall (Charlotte, N.C.) also provided crucial scoring contributions off the bench, helping Guilford close the quarter. The quarter ended with UWL holding an 18-13 lead, but GC's late momentum signaled a competitive game ahead.
UWL extended their lead with sharp shooting and defensive efforts in quarter two. Malia Nelson stood out early with a fastbreak jumper and strong rebounding while Katie Waukau, who went 3-7 from the three, delivered back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes, solidifying the team's momentum. Giannopoulou and Dunn kept the team competitive with timely scoring around the paint. McMillan and Scott also made valuable contributions with fastbreak points and strong interior play. Ultimately, the Eagle's ability to hit from beyond the arc and dominate second-chance points gave them the edge going into halftime, 39-30.
Starting the second-half, Meeker, who scored critical fastbreak points, and Knupp, who hit two pivotal three-pointers to maintain momentum put the Eagles ahead while Scott contributed with steals. McMillan started to heat up down low with offensive rebounds and layups, keeping the game within reach. Giannopoulou and Milne added points from free throws late in the quarter to cut the deficit, 55-49.
Guilford staged a valiant comeback led by Bayer, who showcased relentless scoring with several layups down the stretch, and McMillan, who added fastbreak points and free throws to close the gap. Perry contributed a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds to bring Guilford within striking distance. Ali Sprangers, who hit a crucial three-pointer, gave UWL hope. Madisyn Kilboten and Sydney Torgerson also provided critical baskets and defensive plays to maintain their lead. Ultimately, Wisconsin-La Crosse held on with a final free throw by Malia Nelson, while Guilford's late push, including Bayer's last-second layup, fell just short to finalize the game with a score of 76-74.
Guilford returns to Jack Jensen for Day Two of the Springhill Suites Guilford Holiday Classic as they prepare to face Berry College (Ga.) on Sunday, Dec. 29th at 3 p.m.
#GoQuakes
