BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team sent Defiance College packing with a 56-41 over the Yellow Jackets on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Bluffton wrapped up its season with a 9-16 mark, including 7-11 in the HCAC. Anderson's win at Manchester kept the Beavers from notching a berth in the conference tournament. Defiance finished up 0-25 and 0-18 in league play.
Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) hit three straight layups to give Bluffton a 6-5 lead at the 6:15 mark of quarter one. Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) dialed long distance and Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) hit a couple bunnies before Neuhart struck again for a 15-5 spread. Fenstermaker and Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) converted in the final 41 seconds for a 19-7 lead after one frame.
Zender scored six points in the second quarter and Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory/Kenton) added three as the home team saw its lead cut to 32-24 at the break.
A pair of Zender trifectas sandwiched around two Fenstermaker chip shots helped the Beavers to a 46-32 lead with 3:44 on the clock. Both squads could not find the range until the fourth frame as Bluffton was still by by 14 when the third quarter buzzer sounded.
Prigge and Zender combined for all 10 Bluffton points in the final stanza as the home team swatted the Jackets back to Defiance county with a convincing 56-41 victory, holding DC to single digit in three of the quarters.
Zender just missed her career high with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. She equaled her career best with four triples on just six shots. Neuhart went for 12 points and seven rebounds, while Fenstermaker just missed out on a double double with 10 points and nine boards. She was 5-of-8 from the field. Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) doled out five assists in her final game as a Beaver.
Bluffton hit 20-of-57 (35.1 percent) from the field and the Beavers held Defiance to a paltry 14-of-51 (27.5 percent) night. The home team struggled at the line, connecting on just 12-of-19 (63.2 percent). Bluffton dominated the glass, ripping down 16 more rebounds (49-33). DC turned it over one more time (18-17).
With the Defiance victory in the books, the 2023-24 season is now complete. Continue to check the website over the coming weeks for any All-HCAC honors as well as updated record books!
-BEAVERS-
