Sports Information Staff Report
January 29, 2005

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team (4-15, 1-7 HCAC) was defeated 61-60 by Hanover College (11-8, 4-4 HCAC) on Jan. 29.

Leading the Beavers on the afternoon was junior Karin Schaller (Jenera/Arlington) with 17 points (team high), six rebounds and five blocked shots. Freshman Ashleigh Stallkamp (Paulding, Paulding) posted 17 points (team high) and seven rebounds. Sophomore Tanya Rickenberg (Paulding/Paulding) rounded out double digit scoring for Bluffton with ten points, she also added six rebounds. Freshman Amanda Bell (Napoleon/Liberty Center) led the Beavers with a career high 10 rebounds and a team high seven assists. 

Bluffton came out strong and kept the game in their favor until the 14 minute mark when Hanover took a 13-12 lead. The Beavers and Panthers would battle back and forth for the remainder of the period, as the game would be tied five different times (34-34 halftime).

Hanover would slowly take control of the second half and went ahead by as many as seven points with 7:57 left to play. However, with solid shooting the Beavers fought their way back and took the lead 56-55 with 2:22 remaining off a pair of Stallkamp free-throws. Bluffton would gain a three point lead with 56 ticks left on a fade-away jumper by Stallkamp. The Panthers would answer right back and take the lead for good off back-to-back three pointers by Laura Little. Bluffton came up short on its final possession and the Panthers took the 61-60 victory.

The Beavers will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 2, as they travel to Franklin College for a 7:30 p.m. Heartland Conference match-up.