By: Takayla Gadberry, Sports Information Alumna
BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University women's basketball team capped off the 2023 Holiday Classic with an 80-75 victory over Mount Union on Saturday, Dec. 30. The Beavers improved to 3-8 while Mount Union dropped to 5-6.
The Beavers offense started out hot with two buckets from Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath) and Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) for a quick 4-0 lead. A triple for Clark pushed the Bluffton margin to 7-3 before a Raider bucket and three gave them an 8-7 lead. A Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) deep shot and seven freebies for the Beavers made it 17-12 in favor of Bluffton at the end of the first.
Two layups for Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory/Kenton) and two charity shots for Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) saw the Beavers up by eight (23-15) early in the second quarter. Five unanswered points for the Raiders pulled them within five (25-20) until Prigge knocked down a shot from the arc to increase the Bluffton lead back to eight (28-20). An 8-7 run for the home team sent them back to the locker room with a 36-27 margin at the half.
The Bluffton defense came out fired up, refusing the Raiders any points for four minutes and allowing the Beavers to score six straight for a 42-27 lead. Back-to-back threes for Mount Union saw them pull within 10 (45-35) but Prigge answered back with a trifecta of her own for a 48-37 lead. Prigge, Fitzpatrick, and Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) all found their groove at the three-point line and Bluffton powered to a 62-45 advantage at the end of the third stanza.
A 7-4 run for the Beavers to start off the fourth pushed the spread to 69-49. Nine straight points for the visitors trimmed their deficit to 11 (69-58) before two more Raider long shots cut it to seven (71-64). Another offensive spurt for Mount Union saw them pull within three (78-75) with 16 seconds left in regulation, but the home team held on for the 80-75 victory.
Prigge kept the offensive fire burning with 19 points. Clark knocked down a career-high 16 markers. Fitzpatrick was one off her pace with 15 tallies and five assists, knocking down all 10 of her foul shots. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) powered the defense with eight rebounds. Clark and Neuhart both pulled down seven boards in the victory.
The Beavers netted 22-of-55 (40 percent) from the field and 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) beyond the arc, compared to 25-of-70 (35.7 percent) and 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) from distance for Mount Union. Bluffton also hit 27-of-34 (79.4 percent) from the charity stripe while the Raiders finished 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) in the line. The home team turned the ball over four more times (10-6) but the Beavers won the rebound battle, pulling down 48 boards, compared to 36 for Mount Union.
The Bluffton women will take a break to enjoy the New Year before getting back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they welcome Mt. St. Joseph to the Sommer Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-