BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women dominated quarters two and four en route to a 61-53 victory over MIAA-power Albion College (9-4) on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. In a game that was made possible thanks to Mother Nature, as the Britons were unable to fly to California for their games at Christmas, the Sommer Center faithful was treated to an outstanding non-conference tussle between Albion and Bluffton.
Bluffton jumped out 6-3 on the strength of three straight Morgan Smith (Arlington) buckets, but Albion roared back to take a 15-10 lead after one quarter as the Beavers struggled to put the biscuit in the basket.
Quarter number two started slowly for both teams before the home team used a 9-2 run to take a 19-17 lead with 4:32 on the clock when Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) cashed a pair of freebies. Back-to-back Smith deuces followed by two Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) free throws made it 27-21 with a minute to play in the first half. Prigge pulled up for a jumper in the paint and then took care of an Albion miscue, drilling a triple with six ticks remaining for a 32-23 spread at the break.
Albion had its way in quarter number three, outscoring the Beavers 16-9 with Bluffton's key basket a three-pointer from sophomore Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden). The home team saw its lead trimmed to two points at 41-39 with 10 minutes to play.
The Beavers put it together early in the final stanza as Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) hit a putback and Prigge drained a pair of foul shots before Shardo buried the dagger, a three-point bomb in front of the Bluffton bench that made it 53-43 with less than five minutes to play! Prigge and Shardo iced it with six free throws down the stretch as Bluffton moved to 9-4 with the 61-53 victory.
Bluffton was 21-of-54 from the field for 38.9 percent, but the Beavers limited Albion to just 23-of-70 for a paltry 32.9 percent. Albion struggled to a 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) afternoon outside the arc, while the home team finished 3-of-12 (25 percent). Bluffton also dominated at the free throw line, making 16-of-21 (76.2 percent). Albion pulled down six more boards (44-38) but the Beavers and Britons both scored 28 points in the paint.
Smith just missed out on a double-double, but she led the Beavers with 19 points and nine boards. Prigge hit 7-of-8 from the line on the way to 14 counters and Shardo added 10 points. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) chipped in six points and seven rebounds. Prigge and Shardo dished out three assists apiece. Shardo picked up a game-high four steals and Prigge blocked a pair of shots.
Bluffton will be back in the Sommer Center for its seventh straight game when the Beavers host Earlham College on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. on the night that classes resume following Christmas break.
-BEAVERS-