BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team put up 20 points in the first stanza, but Rose-Hulman turned up its defense on the way to a 62-55 victory on Saturday, Dec. 2. Bluffton slipped to 1-4 and 0-1 in the Heartland Conference, while the Engineers improved to 3-4 and 2-0 in the HCAC.
Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) put Bluffton up 5-0 with her corner triple and Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) sandwiched a pair of trifectas around a Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) layin as the Beavers led 13-6 just four minutes into the game. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) and Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) got into the scoring column late in the opening period, but Rose pulled within 20-19 heading into the second quarter.
Four Newhart points highlighted period two, however, the visitors took a 30-27 lead into the break.
Bluffton found its offense agfain in the third quarter as back-to-back Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) deep balls powered a 9-4 spurt that gave the Beavers a 36-34 lead with 5:54 on the clock. A hoop and harm for Zender had the home team down by just one point (43-42), but the visitors closed the frame with five straight markers for 48-42 advantage after three.
Rose continued to maintain its spread as their lead never dipped below six in the fourth quarter despite free throws from Prigge, Zender and Columber. The Engineers moved to 2-0 in the HCAC courtesy of a 62-55 Sommer Center victory.
Prigge and Zender went for 12 and 11 points, respectively. Fenstermaker finished with nine points and eight boards. Columber chipped in with eight points and three steals. Zender and Fenstermaker picked off four and three steals, respectively. Zender and Prigge both dished out five assists for the home team.
Bluffton hit just 19-of-60 from the field (31.7 percent), including 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers knocked down 12-of-16 (75 percent) at the line. Rose pulled down five more rebounds (38-33), but the Engineers also turned it over three more times (20-17).
Another night in the Sommer Center is on the docket next for Bluffton's women who host Manchester University on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
