BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team saw a seven-point third quarter lead evaporate in a 63-55 loss to Earlham College on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Bluffton slipped to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in the Heartland Conference, while the Quakers improved to 4-10 and 2-7 in league play.
Neuhart scored half of Bluffton's points in the first quarter as the visitors took an 18-16 lead after one period. She hit 3-of-5 from the field, while freshman Rachel Clark (Lima/Shawnee) dished out a pair of assists for the Beavers.
A pair of Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) buckets helped the home team to a 24-22 lead early in the second stanza. Neuhart continued to get it done with a jumper in the paint and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) connected late in the first half, giving the Beavers a 32-30 lead at the break.
Clark and Neuhart scored four apiece to open the second half, making it 40-33 midway through the third quarter. Earlham came roaring back with a 14-3 run that put the visitors up 47-43 with 1:37 on the clock. Clark beat the buzzer following a pair of Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) freebies, pulling Bluffton within two points (49-47) with one quarter to go.
The Quakers bolted out to a 55-47 lead just over two minutes into the fourth, forcing Bluffton to call a timeout. A Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) chip shot trimmed it to four (57-53) but Earlham finished with a 6-2 spurt for a 63-55 victory on Wednesday night.
Neuhart hit 7-of-12 from the field and 8-of-8 at the line for a career-high 22 points and she just missed out on a double double with nine boards. Clark and Brinkman chipped in with eight and six, respectively. Fitzpatrick pulled down six rebounds and she dished out three assists.
Bluffton hit 21-of-53 from the field (39.6 percent) and missed all four of its three-point attempts. The Beavers were outstanding at the stripe, knocking down 13-of-14 (92.9 percent). They pulled down two more rebounds (31-29) and forced three more turnovers (11-8)
The Bluffton women will travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for a 1 p.m. matchup with Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Jan. 20.
-BEAVERS-
