By: Nathan Zeurcher, sports information assistant
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University women traveled to Cincinnati on Friday, Feb. 5 to face off with the Mount St. Joseph Lions. The Beavers made a valiant comeback after trailing 51-41 in the fourth quarter, but they fell to the Lions (72-69) in overtime. It snapped a six-game winning streak for Bluffton, but the Beavers stand 12-2 on the season, while MSJ improved to 2-1.
The Beavers stayed close in the first, trailing by three (18-15) at end of the opening stanza. Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) paced the visitors, scoring seven points and grabbing two boards. Senior guard Kylie Brock (Villa Heights, Ky./Dixie Heights) added a triple for the Beavers in the first period.
Freshman Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) tallied four points for the visitors in the second quarter. Peyton Henry (Leipsic), Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) and Saltzman all added two points as the Beavers trailed 32-25 at the half.
In the third, Gillig got it going with four points and two rebounds. Sophomore sharpshooter Sammy Shardo (Liberty-Benton/Findlay) was perfect in the third, knocking down a three-pointer. In the fourth the Beavers trailed by 10 and were still down four with 1:23 to play, but Saltzman hit a pair of freebies and Gillig tied it with four seconds remaining to send it to overtime! Gillig had a strong fourth quarter with nine points. Frontcourt partner Saltzman added five of her own to force overtime.
When Gillig hit the second of two free throws just 24 seconds into overtime, the junior saw career-point 1,000 drop through the net! She and Shardo combined for seven points, but it was not enough as the Lions drilled two trifectas in the final 1:34 to seal their 72-69 victory.
The double-digit scorers for the Beavers were Gillig with (21) and Saltzman with (14). Saltzman had a career-high 12 rebounds for her second double double and she also doled out a team-high four assists. Shardo and Brock just missed double figures with nine points apiece. Brock also pulled down a career-best seven rebounds. Henry chipped in with career highs of eight points and six boards.
The Beavers shot 33.3 (24-of-72) from the field, compared to the Lions 38 percent (27-of-71). Both teams struggled from outside the arc as Bluffton went 8-of-34 (23.5 percent) and the Lions were 10-for-34 (29.4 percent). Bluffton ripped down 10 more rebounds (52-42), but the Beavers also coughed it up 26 times, five more miscues than the Lions. MSJ dominated with 30 points off turnovers and 21 fast break points.
The Beavers will seek revenge tomorrow afternoon in Bluffton when the Lions head north. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. in the Sommer Center with a Senior Day presentation to precede the game.
-BEAVERS-