Reinhardt Rides Upset Train to Women's Basketball Tournament Title

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Fifth-seeded Reinhardt continued to upset the apple cart on Saturday as it defeated No. 2 seed Milligan 72-57 to win the 2022 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Tournament championship.

The tournament was held at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center and Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

This Reinhardt's first tournament title since 2013.

Abi Haynes scored 29 points in the championship game and a total of 122 points over four games for a 30.5 average.

Joining Haynes on the All-Tournament Team are Catherine Shope and Ashley Woodroffe of Reinhardt, Jaycie Jenkins and Halie Padgett of Milligan, Destiny Kassner of Bryan, and Sheyvonne Owens of Point.

Milligan came out of the game out and claimed an 18-8 lead following a Lauren Longmire 3-pointer with 4:15 left in the first. Reinhardt held firm and went into the second down 22-15. Everything flipped in the second as the Lady Eagles outscored the Buffaloes 22-4 to take a 37-26 lead into the half. Milligan got the deficit until 10 on a couple of occassions early in the third, but Reinhardt withstood every advance in powering its way to the 72-57 victory and the tournament crown.

With the tournament title, Reinhardt earned an automatice berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. As the regular-season champion, Bryan also advances to the national tournament. The 64-team bracket will be announced on Thursday, March 3, at 7 p.m. ET.