FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team was looking to cap off a sweep of Franklin College on Saturday, Feb. 3, but the Grizzlies had other plans as the home team evened the season series with a 79-62 victory. Bluffton fell to 7-14 overall and 5-9 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin improved to 13-8 and 8-6 in the HCAC.

The host Grizzlies hit their first seven shots on the way to a 16-3 lead over Bluffton less than five minutes into the contest. Buckets by Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath) and Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) followed by a Clark triple pulled the Beavers within six (16-10) at the 3:25 mark. The visitors were down 10 when Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) dialed long distance, making it 24-17 after period one.

A triple from sophomore Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) early in the second stanza made it a three-point game (24-21). Although the Grizzlies led by six late in the half, Zender answered the call with a pair of triples over the final 1:39, knotting the score 31-31 at the break.

An old-fasioned three-point play from Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) followed by a Neuhart layin gave the Beavers a 37-36 lead at the 6:51 mark of period three, however, Franklin closed the quarter with a 23-9 run that gave the home team a 59-46 advantage with 10 minutes to play.

Fenstermaker and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) kept the Beavers within striking distance at 61-50, but Bluffton was unable to get it to single digits during the final stanza. Franklin hit 4-of-8 outside the arc in the fourth quarter, pulling away for a 79-62 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Zender and Columber led the Beavers with 14 points apiece. Clark added 12 points and Fenstermaker chipped in with nine markers. Sophomore Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory/Kenton) pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Fitzpatrick, who had three steals, and Clark both dished out three assists.

Bluffton hit 22-of-57 from the field (38.6 percent), including 5-for-18 outside the arc (27.8 percent). The Beavers struggled to a 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) afternoon at the line. Franklin hammered away to a 44-30 advantage on the boards, but the Grizzlies turned it over four more times (18-14).

The Bluffton women are back on the road to Lexington, Ky., where the Beavers take on #2 nationally-ranked Transylvania Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m.

-BEAVERS-