By: Ethan Stearns, sports information intern
HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team battled Hanover to the end, but the Panthers came out on top (60-55) to cap off a season sweep of the Beavers. Bluffton fell to 12-5 overall and 7-4 in the Heartland, while Hanover improved to 13-5 and 10-1 in the HCAC.
The Beavers found it tough to score against the Hanover defense in the first period as they trailed 21-10 after the first 10 minutes. Morgan Smith (Arlington) came out of the gates strong, scoring a quick layup and later adding a couple of freebies. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) chipped in to the opening quarter scoring with four points and she ripped down three offensive boards. Hanover ended the stanza on a 9-0 run to finish the first quarter with a double-digit lead (21-10).
Bluffton picked up the pace defensively in the second quarter, allowing the home Panthers to score only nine points. Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell-Loudon) started the 17-9 frame with a layup, followed shortly by treys from Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) and Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty Benton). Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) added to the comeback attempt with two straight layups, pulling the Beavers within five (29-24). Bluffton went into the halftime break trailing 29-27 after Smith completed a three-point play with four ticks remaining.
Period number three made out to be very exciting as both squads fought hard and the quarter ended in a 40-40 tie. After trailing by nine points with 5:58 left, Prigge and Fenstemaker combined to score four points and get the Beavers back in the game. A clutch Peyton Henry (Leipsic) triple knotted it up at 40-40, setting the stage for a dogfight in the final stanza.
Henry started the fourth with another hit from distance to put her team up 43-40. Two charity tosses from Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) and eight more points from Smith were not enough to get the victory as the HCAC battle ended with a final score of 60-55 in favor of the Panthers.
Smith turned in a monster effort as she scored 21 points while also pulling down six rebounds. Fenstemaker ripped down six caroms as well. Shardo led the team in takeaways with three, and Henry was perfect from deep, drilling both of her three-point attempts.
The Beavers hit 22-of-59 (37.3 percent) from the field and 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from distance. Hanover shot similarly from the field (23-of-58) but the Panthers were much more effective from three as they connected on 4-of-10 (40 percent). Hanover won the brawl on the boards, snatching 41, compared to 33 from Bluffton.
The Bluffton women will travel to Anderson University on Wednesday, Jan. 25, for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with the Ravens.
-BEAVERS-