By: Ethan Stearns, sports information intern
NORTH MANCHESTER, Indiana – The Bluffton University women's basketball team fought hard on the way to a 74-64 win at Manchester University on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. The Beavers improved to 12-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. Manchester fell to 6-9 and 2-6 in the conference.
The Beavers started the game slowly as they allowed five straight Manchester points out of the gate. Morgan Smith (Arlington) was able to open up the scoring for Bluffton with two free throws followed closely by a Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) layup which cut the deficit to four points. Manchester stayed hot, jumping out to a 15-4 lead with 3:14 left in the first quarter. A pair of threes from Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell London) and Peyton Henry (Leipsic) made it a five-point game, 17-12. The Spartans continued their first-quarter onslaught, opening up a 25-14 spread after period one.
The Beavers picked up the pace in the second quarter with Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) scoring a pair of free throws and a layup to start the frame. A couple threes from Sammy Shardo (Findlay) and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) got the ball rolling for a great Beaver comeback as they went into the break all knotted up (38-38).
The brawl continued into the second half as there were four lead changes in the third quarter. Another Shardo trifecta put the Beavers up 41-38 to start the half. Zender added to her game-high 13 points with a couple free throws. A buzzer-beater layup to end the quarter from Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory, Kenton) cut the Manchester lead to one (54-53) heading to the final stanza.
Zender led the way in the fourth quarter as she scored seven points, including four from the free throw line. Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) drained a three-pointer at the 3:52 mark. The Beavers were able to jump ahead late in the fourth quarter and rode the momentum to a great 74-64 win!
Zender had an outstanding performance as she led the Beavers with 13 points. The scoring for Bluffton was spread out as Smith and Fitzpatrick tallied 12 points apiece with Prigge adding 11 counters. Shardo and Fitzpatrick both dished out three assists in the victory. Smith continued to dominate the boards, pulling down a team-high six caroms.
The Beavers hit just 22-of-58 (37.9 percent) attempts, but they shot exceptionally well from beyond the arc, drilling 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) as Manchester also showed off from three, making 8-for-20 (40 percent). The Beavers were able to take advantage of 21 Manchester turnovers, scoring 21 points.
The Beavers hit the road again on Saturday, Jan. 21, when they head to Hanover. The women play after the men that day, tipping off at approximately 4 p.m.
-BEAVERS-