BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team was outscored 39-22 in the middle two quarters as Adrian opened the season with a 63-48 victory over the Beavers on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Early buckets by Bluffton bigs Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) and Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) had the home team up 4-2 less than two minutes into the season. Adrian scored six straight, but a Fenstermaker jumper just before the buzzer put the Beavers up 12-10 after one frame.
A 13-2 spurt leading off period two was broken up by Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Loudon) who dialed long distance! Junior Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) drained a pair at the line and Bluffton was within four, but Adrian closed out the half with consecutive baskets for a 27-19 lead at the break.
Fenstermaker opened the second half with a jumper and Neuhart followed with four straight freebies as the home team made it a four-point game (29-25) at the 8:21 mark. Bluffton was still within five when the Bulldogs used a 13-3 jag to close out the quarter with a commanding 49-34 edge.
A Zender layin following an Adrian turnover followed by four straight Fitzpatrick counters had the Beavers within six (54-48) with four minutes to play, however, the visitors sealed the deal with the final nine points en route to a 63-48 victory on Wednesday night.
Bluffton hit just 14-of-59 from the field for 23.7 percent, including a paltry 3-for-20 (15 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers knocked down 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) at the stripe, but were on the wrong end of a 43-37 rebounding battle. Adrian turned it over three more times (18-15) while hitting a respectable 27-of-59 (45.8 percent) from the field.
Fitzpatrick converted 7-of-10 at the line for a team-high 11 points. Fenstermaker just missed a double-double with 10 boards and nine points, while Neuhart finished with a career-high 11 rebounds and eight markers. Prigge and Fitzpatrick dished out four and three assists, respectively, and Prigge led the team with four steals.
Bluffton returns to the Sommer Center in two nights when the Beavers host Olivet on Friday, Nov. 10. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
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