BLUFFTON, Ohio - Oberlin College pulled away for a 68-42 victory over the Beavers on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. The Yeowomen stayed perfect at 3-0, while Bluffton slipped to 0-3 on the season.
Free throws by Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) and Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) were all Bluffton could put on the board until a Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) jumper found the bottom of the net with 2:05 to play in the first quarter. Sophomore Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) hit from in close with 34 ticks on the clock as Oberlin took a 16-8 lead after one frame.
Four straight points from junior Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) and a Neuhart layin from Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) had the home team within seven early in the second quarter. Zender converted a hoop and harm with 3:36 on the clock and then she dialed long distance just over a minute later, but Oberlin carried a 33-21 lead into the break.
A Neuhart bucket followed by two Fitzpatrick makes at the line had the Beavers within eight at the midway point of period three before a 9-4 spurt by the visitors made it 45-32 with one quarter to play. Oberlin closed out its 26-point victory with a 23-10 splurge over the final 10 minutes. Zender score four in the final stanza and freshman Mira Horvath (Defiance) knocked down both of her attempts at the charity stripe with 15 seconds to play.
Leading the way with 12 points, Zender made all five of her free throws while going 3-of-7 from the field. Fitzpatrick and Neuhart pulled down seven rebounds apiece. Zender and Fitzpatrick both picked up two steals on Wednesday night.
Bluffton struggled to an 11-of-51 night from the field (21.6 percent), including 1-for-10 outside the arc. The home team was sharp at the line, draining 19-of-23 for 82.6 percent. Oberlin finished 25-of-56 from the field (44.6 percent) with nine triples and 9-of-10 shooting at the line. The Beavers pulled down two more rebounds (38-36) but they also turned it over six more times (16-10).
The Bluffton women hit the road for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when they make the short trip to Heidelberg University in Tiffin. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at Seiberling Gymnasium.
-BEAVERS-