Pair of Upsets Shake Up Women's Basketball Tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - It was an action-packed day at the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday as there were a pair of upsets in the quarterfinal round.

The four-day event is being held at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

Last year's tournament finalists are out as Tennessee Wesleyan knocked off defending champion Reinhardt 65-60 and sixth-seeded Montreat upended No. 3 seed Milligan 60-55.

In the other games, top-seeded Bryan posted a 76-64 win over No. 8 Columbia International, while No. 2 Point registered an 80-57 win over seventh-seeded Bluefield.

TWU 65, REINHARDT 60

Play was tight and back and forth all game as Reinhardt took a one-point lead into the fourth. However, Tennessee Weslayan outscored Reinhardt 20-14 in the final frame en route to the five-point win. Ashley Baxter provided the dagger with a 3-pointer to put Tennessee Wesleyan up 58-54 with 36 seconds to play.

Yeika Jimenez Diaz paced TWU with 27 points, six rebounds, and five steals.

BRYAN 76, CIU 64

Bryan was in control from the outset and took care of business in recording the 12-point win. Kadee Ferrell and Allissa Mulaski each nearly posted double-doubles with Ferrell finishing with nine points and 13 rebounds and Mulaski adding nine points and 11 rebounds.

Samantha led Bryan with 18 points.

POINT 80, BLUEFIELD 57

Bluefield kept things close in the first half as it only trailed 34-31 at the break. However, Point used a 20-9 third quarter to open up a 54-40 lead going into the fourth. The Skyhawks kept it going in the fourth as it cashed in a 23-point victory.

Four players scored in double figures for Point with Marta Gimenez leading the with 18.

MONTREAT 60, MILLIGAN 55

Montreat led for must of the game, but Milligan took a 45-40 lead in the fourth on a Jaycie Jenkins bucket at the 6:32 mark. Down 54-52, Montreat closed the game on an 8-1 run to steal the five-point win. An Adrianna Gullette 3-pointer up Montreat up for good at 57-54.

Mariya Williams was the lone Montreat player to score in double figures as she finished with 25.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Game 1 - No. 8 Columbia International (16-13) def. No. 9 Kentucky Christian (15-14), 72-62 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Bluefield (15-13) def. No. 10 Columbia (10-18), 82-67 (box)
Thursday, Feb. 23
Game 3 - No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (19-8) def. No. 4 Reinhardt (18-11), 65-60 (box)
Game 4 - No. 1 Bryan (26-3) vs. No. 8 Columbia International (16-14), 76-64 (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Point (21-8) vs. No. 7 Bluefield (15-14), 80-57 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Milligan (19-10) vs. No. 6 Montreat (20-9), 60-55 (box)

Friday, Feb. 24
Game 7 - No. 1 Bryan (26-3) vs. No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (19-8), 2 pm
Game 8 - No. 2 Point (21-8) vs. No. 6 Montreat (20-9), 4 pm

Saturday, Feb. 25
Game 9 - Championship Game - Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1 pm

All games will be live-streamed on the AAC Digital Network for free. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students each day. To purchase tickets, click here.