November 28, 2001

Four Bluffton College players collected at least one career-high, but it wasn't enough as the Beavers fell to Manchester College 80-71 in Founders Hall Wednesday night.

Bluffton falls to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, while Manchester improves to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the HCAC.

Junior Melissa James (LaRue/Elgin) established new career highs with 20 points and six assists, while junior Lyndsey Robinson (Fostoria) scored a career high 17 points. Junior Heather Demery (Cleveland/Lutheran West) hit for career highs with seven points and six rebounds, and sophomore Karen Harris (Bowling Green) grabbed a career high nine rebounds and tied a career high with eight assists.

But it was Manchester's Erica Sewell who stole the show with 22 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Spartans. Missy Hoppe added 17 points and 13 boards.

Bluffton led 38-35 at halftime, but Manchester shot 54.3% from the floor in the second half to take a 12-point lead with under five minutes to go in the game.

There were 18 ties or lead changes in the first half before BC took a three-point lead at the intermission. Junior Paula Fry's layup with 13:55 left in the game gave Bluffton their biggest lead of the night before an 18-5 Manchester run swung the momentum to the visitors.

The win was Manchester's first over Bluffton since the 1998-99 season. BC had won five straight in the series.