Back-To-Back: Milligan Repeats as Women's Basketball Tourney Champs

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - It was anything but easy; however, top-seeded Milligan got the job done and won the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Tournament championship on Saturday, defeating No. 3 seed Reinhardt 64-62.

The tournament was being held at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center.

This is the second year in a row Milligan has won the tournament crown.

Milligan led for the majority of the game but could not run away from Reinhardt. The Buffaloes led by as much as seven in the fourth quarter, yet the Eagles continually made runs, cutting the margin down to two or three on a few occasions. Still, Milligan never allowed Reinhardt to tie or take the lead down the stretch, securing the two-point victory and the tournament championship.

Callie Reeder came off the bench to lead Milligan in scoring with 16. Lina Lyon and McKenna Myers each chipped in 11.

Semaj Clark of Milligan was named the Tournament MVP, with Reeder and Lyon making the All-Tournament Team. Joining them on the All-Tournament Team are Londaisha Smith and I'ziah McCutchins of Reinhardt, Halle Traylor of Spartanburg Methodist, and Rachel Bush of Pikeville.

Since Milligan already received an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament as the regular-season champion, Bryan receives the second automatic berth as the regular-season runner-up since Milligan won the tournament. The NAIA Selection Show is set for Thursday, March 5, at 6 pm ET.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1 - No. 9 Montreat (11-16) def. No. 8 Columbia (13-16), 65-59 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Spartanburg Methodist (16-13) def. No. 10 Union Commonwealth (8-20), 64-46 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3 - No. 1 Milligan (21-7) def. No. 9 Montreat (11-17), 70-50 (box)
Game 4 - No. 4 Pikeville (15-13) def. No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (11-15), 65-58 (box)
Game 5 - No. 7 Spartanburg Methodist (17-13) def. No. 2 Bryan (21-7), 69-68 (box) 
Game 6 - No. 3 Reinhardt (22-6) def. No. 6 Johnson (11-16), 56-46 (box)

Friday, Feb. 27
Game 7 - No. 1 Milligan (22-7) def. No. 4 Pikeville (15-14), 64-61 (box)
Game 8 - No. 3 Reinhardt (23-6) def. No. 7 Spartanburg Methodist (17-14), 66-56 (box)

Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 1 Milligan (23-7) vs. No. 3 Reinhardt (23-7), 64-62 (box)