BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team led from start to finish in a convincing 72-56 demolition of visiting Franklin College on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. The Beavers improved to 11-4 overall and 6-3 in the Heartland Conference following an exciting Alumni Day Game that ended in a 52-52 tie!
Morgan Smith (Arlington) sandwiched a pair of layups around a trifecta from fellow senior Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) as Bluffton bolted out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest. Bluffton was up 17-12 when freshman Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) hit from outside the arc, giving the Beavers a comfortable 20-12 spread after period one.
Back-to-back Smith bunnies followed by a Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) helped the home team to a 29-14 cushion with 6:08 to play in the half. Freshman Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) made her presence known, bucketing seven points in the second quarter as Bluffton led 39-21 at the break.
Scoring was at a premium in the third quarter until a three-point play from Peyton Henry (Leipsic) got the Beavers rolling. Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) capped the frame off with a pair of freebies and a triple, pushing the lead to 58-40 with 10 minutes to play.
Smith put Bluffton on her back in the final stanza, hitting both of her shots and 3-of-4 at the line for seven points. Freshman Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) hit from in close to wrap up the 72-58 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Although she just missed out on a double-double, Smith was nearly flawless with 10 makes on just 13 shots. She ripped down a game-high nine boards and added a pair of assists. Zender tallied 10 counters on 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Fenstermaker finished with six caroms and was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field. Henry handed out five helpers in the victory.
Bluffton hit 26-of-56 (46.4 percent) and the defense limited Franklin to 31.8 percent shooting (20-of-64). The home team pulled down five more rebounds, but Franklin had an 18-14 edge on the offensive glass. The Beavers outscored Franklin 36-28 in the paint.
For the first time in over a month, the women will get on a bus and hit the road. Bluffton heads to Manchester University for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff with the Spartans after eight consecutive games in the Sommer Center!
-BEAVERS-
