By Chad Hochstetler, SID assistant
and Dan Crider, SID Intern

February 18, 2004

BLUFFTON , OHIO - The Bluffton College women's basketball team (1-23, 0-13 HCAC) were defeated by rival Defiance College (18-6, 10-3 HCAC) 95-49 Wednesday night.

Early in the game Defiance took control and never looked back.  The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 19-3 lead in the first eight minutes of play.  Bluffton kept themselves in the game over the next four minutes with Senior Lindsay Bacon (Troy/Troy) connecting on four three-point shots and bring Bluffton to within 15 points of Defiance.  However, the Beavers would go cold the rest of the half and only manage two more points.  The halftime score was Defiance 57, Bluffton 17.

In the second half the two teams traded baskets back and forth, but the Beavers could not close the Defiance lead.  FreshmanTanya Rickenberg (Defiance/Paulding) shook off a cold start to net 17 points, with 14 coming in the second half.  Rickenberg also led the team in rebounds with seven and chipped in six assists.  Bacon rounded off double-figure scoring for Bluffton with 12 points.

Leading Defiance in scoring was Anna Fretz with 20 points.  Meghann Savard added 18, and Sarah Kuhn contributed 11.

Bluffton will finish off the regular season Saturday afternoon at home against Manchester College.  Tip off is scheduled for 2 pm.