By: Jack Reed, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - It was Senior Day at Sommer Center for the Bluffton University women on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. While there may have been no fans in the stands, the four seniors, consisting of Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, Ky./Dixie Heights), Claire Myree (Cincinnati/Lakota West), Nora Hemminger (McComb) and Abbie Parkins (Bluffton) were recognized and celebrated for all of the hard work, sacrifices and dedication they have put into their four years of playing college basketball. All four seniors led the Beavers out on the floor to start the game, along with junior Brianna Gillig (New Riegel), following a presentation that included messages to each senior written by their parents.

The Beavers looked to avenge their overtime loss last evening against Mount St. Joseph, but they fell short again in a hard fought battle against their foes from Cincinnati. As the final buzzer sounded, the Lions prevailed 61-55.

Bluffton struggled finding a rhythm to start as it took over two minutes to tally their first points thanks to a pair of made free throws by Gillig who scored career point 1,000 at MSJ on Friday night. She put up the first six points for Bluffton in the opening stanza. Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) scored on a layup from Emma Saltzman (Arcadia). Freshman Taylor Malson checked into the game and immediately drilled a three-pointer with just under a minute to play, but the visitors still led 18-11 after 10 minutes of action.

The second quarter was a much different story for the Beavers as they came out hot and outscored the Lions 20-15. Junior Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty Benton) dialed in one of her three triples on the day just a minute into the period, thanks to a dish from Malson. With a little over a minute remaining in the quarter, Parkins and Shardo found a rhythm with each other as Shardo connected on back-to-back three pointers on kick outs from Parkins. Heading into halftime the Beavers trailed by just two (33-31).

Gillig evened up the score with two made free throws just eight seconds into the second half. The two teams would go on to trade baskets until Mount opened an eight-point lead with five minutes left in the quarter. But the Beavers would not give in as they rallied with baskets by Parkins, Saltzman and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead). Heading into the final quarter the Beavers trailed by just four (48-44) in spite of four missed free throws late in the third.

The Lions came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth stanza, and thanks to a couple of costly turnovers from the Beavers, the visitors saw their cushion balloon to 13 points midway through the quarter. To their credit, the Beavers would not back down as Fitzpatrick connected on a trey with just under three minutes left to pull the home team within 10. Mount St. Joseph went scoreless during the last three minutes of the game, but it was too little, too late for the Beavers who made the final score 61-55 when Brock's corner triple just beat the buzzer.

The Beavers fell to 12-3 on the season as they dropped both games this weekend. Bluffton struggled from the field, shooting just 33.3 percent (19-of-57), compared to 44 percent and a blistering 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from distance for the Lions.

The Beavers dominated the rebounding battle (44-26) as Gillig hauled in a game-high 10 boards. She notched 21 points on the day, followed by Shardo with 11 and Fitzpatrick with eight. Saltzman blocked three shots and handed out a career-high seven dimes!

Bluffton will be back in action next Friday, Feb. 12 when Anderson University comes to town. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in the Sommer Center.

-BEAVERS-