January 2, 2002

Bluffton outrebounded the top rebounding team in the Heartland Conference, but the Beavers fell 92-57 to Franklin College Wednesday night in Founders Hall.

Bluffton's 47-46 advantage on the boards marked the first time this season the Beavers had outrebounded an HCAC opponent, but the Grizzlies went on a 29-5 run early in the second half thanks to a pesky full-court press to take control of the game.

Franklin improves to 12-2 on the season and remains atop the HCAC standings with a 4-0 league record. Bluffton falls to 0-12 overall and 0-4 in the HCAC.

Junior Lyndsey Robinson led Bluffton with 16 points and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. She added seven rebounds.

Sophomore Lindsay Bacon notched new career highs with 11 points and six assists, while junior Melissa James also scored 11 points and grabbed a career high 10 rebounds.

Bluffton's rebound total (47) was their second-most of the season (BC collected 50 vs. Cedarville), but the Beavers collected just five steals, their lowest total of the season in that department.

Franklin freshman Jenny Cooper scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Grizzlies.

BC will now face HCAC co-leader Anderson University on Saturday in Indiana.