By Bill Hanefeld Jr., sports information director
January 11, 2006

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team (2-12, 0-3 HCAC) struggled to match up with the Grizzlies as it fell at Franklin (12-2, 3-0 HCAC) by a final score of 80-52 on Wednesday, January 11, 2006. The Grizzlies forced the Beavers into 24 miscues while only turning the ball over six times during the contest. Franklin hit only 39 percent from the field but the Grizzlies took 25 more shots than the Beavers

Bluffton was undaunted by the Grizzlies during the opening minutes of the game as a LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) jumper put the Beavers up 6-4 at the 17:35 mark. Two minutes later AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) drained a triple to put the Beavers up 11-8. Following a KARIN SCHALLER (Jenera/Arlington) layup, the Grizzlies rolled off 10 unanswered points to take a 21-13 lead when LESLIE MEHRLACH completed a three-point play with 11 minutes left in the first half. ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) countered with consecutive buckets to cut the deficit to six midway through the half. The Beavers were still within five points when SARAH BRUNER (Wauseon/Pettisville) hit twice from in close before the Grizzlies exploded for 14 consecutive points putting Franklin up 40-21 at the three minute mark. ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP (Paulding/Paulding) found the hoop for a three-point play the old fashioned way with a minute to play, but BRITTANY BEEHLER knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to send the Grizzlies into halftime up 45-29.

The Beavers opened the second half with a 6-2 spurt to close the gap to 12 points (47-35) with 16 minutes to play, but the Grizzlies put the game on ice when they outscored Bluffton 19-4 over the next seven minutes to open up a 66-39 lead with less than nine minutes to play. Schaller and Stallkamp found the hoop to help the Beavers claw to within 23 but that was as close as they would get. Franklin used a 14-9 run during the final seven minutes of the game to win its 12th consecutive home contest by a score of 80-52.

Stallkamp paced the Beavers with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Schaller and Lee both finished with eight points and five rebounds. Bell chipped in with seven points and four assists. LEANDRA THOMAS (Paulding/Paulding) came off the bench for two points and four rebounds in limited action while Bush hauled in seven rebounds against the Grizzlies.

Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, January 14, 2006 when it hosts Transylvania University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.