KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Fourth-seeded University of Pikeville was eliminated from the AAC tournament on Friday afternoon, falling to Milligan (Tenn.) University 82-54.
 
The decision moves No. 1 Milligan into Saturday's championship game, where it awaits the winner of the Tennessee Wesleyan/Reinhardt contest.
 
For the Bears, the loss is their first ever in the AAC tournament, after winning the championship last year when they also entered the event seeded fourth.
 
UPike went to the half trailing 35-29, but was outscored 31-10 in the third period of play. Milligan scored the first eight points of the third quarter and 13 of the first 15 to push its lead to 48-31.
 
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes pushed its lead to 35.
 
AAC Player of the Year Allie Stone led the Bears with 19 points. Sophomore Rachel Bush scored 14 while pulling down eight rebounds and blocking four shots. Junior guard India Blyth hit three three-pointers to toss in 11.
 
The Buffs had a pair of double-doubles in the game, as junior Semaj Clark had 18 points and 17 rebounds along with five assists, and graduate student Jaycie Jekins had 24 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Both players had five offensive rebounds as they dominated the glass, 55-32.
 
Sophomore Jenna Hare scored 12 off the bench, going 3 for 3 from outside, while senior Lauren Longmire scored 10.
 
UPike shot only 32.3 percent from the field and was 5 of 18 from three point range. The nation's leading free throw shooting team was 9 for 12 from the line.
 
Milligan was 9 of 18 from the arc and 13 of 16 from the stripe.
 
The Bears, who are 19-9, now await to learn their fate from the national tournament selection committee.
 
Milligan improved to 23-7.