DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team showed no signs of rust in an 80-67 demolition at Defiance on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. The Beavers improved to 7-1 following their first game since December 12. It was the season opener for Defiance.
Consecutive triples by Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) and 10 points by the junior in less than three minutes propelled Bluffton to a quick 12-4 lead at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter. The home team pulled within a point at 18-17 with a minute to play in the opening stanza before a Claire Myree (Cincinnati/Lakota West) trifecta made it 21-17 heading into period two.
A 9-1 spurt to open the second quarter made it 30-18 thanks to consecutive deuces from Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) and a deep ball by Nora Hemminger (McComb). Ten straight points from freshman Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mt. Gilead) helped the Beavers blow it wide open as the visitors took a commanding 44-24 advantage at the break.
The Beavers stayed in control throughout the third quarter as Taylor Malson (Castalia/Margaretta) got to rack twice in an 18-second span en route to a 60-46 lead going to the final stanza.
Gillig and Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) dialed long distance to open the fourth quarter and the Beavers never looked back. An 11-point five minutes for Gillig sent the Beavers to 76-54 lead midway through the fourth and it sent her to the bench as the junior's night was done! Malson put it on ice with her triple at the 1:30 mark as the visitors capped off an 80-67 victory in their first game of 2021.
Coming in just one point off her career best was Gillig who hit 4-of-5 from distance for 28 counters. Fitzpatrick dropped in 12, while Saltzman and Malson added 10 points apiece. Gillig pulled down a game-high seven rebounds for the victors. Shardo and Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, KY/Dixie Heights) doled out four assists each and Fitzpatrick picked up three steals. Shardo stuffed the Jackets twice.
Bluffton hit 28-of-64 (43.8 percent), including a sparkling 13-of-30 (43.3 percent) from outside the arc. The Beavers pulled down 15 more caroms (43-28) and turned it over two fewer times (20-18). The visitors also spread the wealth with 19 assists on Friday night.
The Northwest Ohio rivals will be back at it on Saturday, Jan. 16, when the venue moves to Bluffton. Tip-off in the Sommer Center is slated for 2 p.m. with the men to follow at 4 p.m.
-BEAVERS-