By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped a 78-51 decision in a conference matchup at Anderson University on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The Beavers record dipped to 12-6 overall and 7-5 in conference play. Anderson improved to 11-7 and 8-4 in the Heartland Conference.
Both teams found it hard to score in the opening period as Anderson finished with a 15-12 lead. Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty Benton) nailed a three to open up scoring for her team. Morgan Smith (Arlington) hit a pair of mid-range jumpers and Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell-Loudon) added a layup at the 3:16 mark to tie the game up at 12. Anderson hit from deep to take a three-point lead at the end of one.
The second quarter is where things started to roll Anderson's way as the home team outscored the Beavers 21-5. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) netted all five Beaver points as she made a layup, a jump shot and a free throw. The visitors ended the first half trailing 36-17.
The offensive pace of the game picked up drastically to kick off the final 20 minutes, with Bluffton scoring 26 points in period number three. Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) rattled off eight straight (two threes) out of the gate. Shardo added another three ball off a Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) dime. Anderson paced with the Beavers, heading into the closing stanza with a 13-point lead (56-43).
The fourth looked a lot like the second as the visiting squad managed only eight points. Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) threw in a foul shot at the 2:52 mark. Twenty-two points in the final stanza helped Anderson achieve a 78-51 victory.
Three different players scored in the double digits for Bluffton. Smith turned in 13 points, while Shardo scored 11 and Prigge added 10. Smith dominated the boards, coming down with a game-high eight rebounds and three blocks! Kayla Prigge handed out three helpers to lead the team.
The Beavers could not get going offensively, hitting only 19-of-61 (30.6 percent) from the field and 6-for-25 (24 percent) from distance. Anderson connected on 27-of-63 (42.9 percent) and the Ravens were also locked in from distance, hitting 13-of-30 (43.3 percent).
The Bluffton women's team brings it home in just two days as they are set to host a Transylvania squad that is top 5 in the country on Saturday, Jan. 28, in the second game of a doubleheader with the men's team. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. the beheading of J. Denny Beaver!
-BEAVERS-