BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team led 57-46 in the fourth stanza, but Olivet rallied with an 18-6 spurt for a stunning 64-63 win on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. The Comets won their 2023-24 lidlifter, while the Beavers fell to 0-2 on the season.

Bluffton bolted out to an 11-0 lead just over three minutes into the game on the strength of two Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) buckets and a Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) triple. The visitors pulled within six (11-5), but the Beavers closed out the first 10 minutes with four points from Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) on the way to a 19-9 spread after one quarter.

Olivet turned the tables with a 16-4 jag that gave the visitors a 25-23 lead at the 3:45 mark of period two. A hoop and harm from Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory/Kenton) followed by another Prigge long ball powered Bluffton to a 31-27 lead at the half.

The home team pushed its advantage to 43-31 midway through the third quarter when sophomore Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) hit from distance and Columber's floater in the key had the Beavers up 52-42 with one quarter to play.

Fenstermaker hit from in close and Zender followed with a three-point play, making it 57-46 Bluffton with just over seven minutes to play, but Olivet would not go away and Clara Shoales putback with eight seconds to play handed the visitors a 64-63 victory in the Sommer Center.

Notching her second career double-double, Fenstermaker did all she could to keep Bluffton in it with a career-best 14 boards and 10 points. Prigge and Zender checked in with 13 and 10 counters, respectively. Prigge doled out a career-best six dimes, while Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. Zender picked off the Comets with three steals, tying her career high.

Bluffton hit 21-of-56 (37.5 percent) from the field, but just 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers finished with one more rebound (42-41), but they turned it over three more times (17-14). Bluffton was outstanding at the stripe, draining 17-of-18 for 94.4 percent!

The Beavers will be back in the Sommer Center for their third straight game on Wednesday, Nov. 15, when Oberlin College comes to town for a 6 p.m. tip.

-BEAVERS-