Takayla Gadberry, sports information alumna
OLIVET, Mich. – The Bluffton University women's basketball team traveled to Olivet College on a cold Wednesday, Nov 16, where they pulled off a 60-46 victory over the Comets. The Beavers improved to 2-0 on the season while Olivet fell to 0-1.
It was a slow first five minutes when just a shot from Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) and a free throw by Morgan Smith (Arlington) made for a 4-3 game in favor of the Comets. A 9-0 Beaver run highlighted by a Fitzpatrick triple gave Bluffton a 15-7 lead at the end of quarter one.
Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) started off the second quarter with a layup followed by another Fitzpatrick three which put the Beavers up 21-9. A 5-0 run for the Comets pulled them within seven (21-14), but the Beavers answered back with 11 quick points to push the spread to 14 (32-18) going into the half.
After over two minutes of scoreboard silence to start the third quarter, Smith dropped a deuce to give the visitors a 34-18 lead. Another 5-0 run for Olivet made it an 11-point margin (34-23), however, Shardo and Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Loudon) wouldn't allow that to last long as they both hit from distance for a 43-23 lead. One more bucket from Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) would give Bluffton a 45-27 advantage going into the final stanza.
Six straight points for the Comets narrowed their gap to 57-40 with 2:18 left in regulation. Despite another make for the Comets, Kirstin Schlumbohm (DeGraff/Riverside) converted a pair from the charity stripe to secure the 60-44 win for the good guys.
Smith was the offensive and defensive powerhouse with 11 points and a career-high 15 boards for double-double number seven. Shardo, Fitzpatrick, and Peyton Henry (Leipsic) were one off her pace with 10 points apiece. Fitzpatrick also pulled down nine rebounds with Henry right behind her, adding eight to the stat line.
The Beavers hit 21-of-76 (27.6 percent) from the field and 6-of-25 (24 percent) from beyond the arc, compared to Olivet's 18-of-57 (31.6 percent) from close and a rough 0-of-8 (0 percent) from distance. Bluffton also won the battle at the charity stripe with 12-of-17 (70.6 percent), compared to 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) for the Comets. The visitors pulled down an impressive 57 rebounds with just 41 for the home team. Bluffton turned the ball over five fewer times (20-15) but Olivet finished with 10 more points in the paint (32-22).
The women are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when they welcome Heidelberg University to Copeland Court. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. with the men hosting Alma College at 7 p.m. as part of a little pre-Thanksgiving double feature! Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-