By Molly Burnell, sports information assistant
January 14, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team fell to 2-13, 0-4 in the HCAC with a 75-67 loss to Transylvania University (5-9, 3-1) on Saturday, January 14, 2006 in Founder's Hall. For the contest Bluffton shot 46 percent from the field (29-62) while the Pioneers dropped in 43 percent of their shots (25-58). The Beavers pulled down 31 rebounds compared to Transy's 28 boards. The difference proved to be the three-point line. Bluffton managed to hit only 1-8 from behind the arc while the Pioneers drilled 10-24 triple attempts.
Bluffton jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with buckets by sophomores ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP (Paulding/Paulding) and AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center). Transy's HALEY RINEY nailed a jump shot and drained a three-pointer to give the visitors a one-point advantage (5-4) less than three minutes into the contest. The Pioneers mounted a 5-0 run over the next five minutes until sophomore LINDSEY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) connected a layup to cut the Transy lead to four points. Tenacious defense, which led to turnovers and limited shot opportunities for both teams, helped the Pioneers maintain their five-point lead with 10:31 to play. Bush hit a layup and foul shot to cut the Transy lead to two points (13-11) midway through the period. The Pioneers battled back as they nailed three triples to take a 12-point advantage with just under seven minutes to play. Bluffton responded with a run of its own; junior TANYA RICKENBERG (Defiance/Paulding) scored seven points and SARAH BRUNER(Wauseon/Pettisville) found the hoop to bring the Beavers to within three points. Cohesive play at the end of the period and key shots allowed Transy to take a six-point halftime advantage, 32-26.
Both teams traded buckets over the first minutes of the second half until a CHELSEA MOORHEAD (McComb/McComb) jumper cut the Pioneers' lead to four points (48-44) with 11:17 remaining in the game. Transy's SARAH MATHER drained a three-pointer to push the lead back to nine points. The Pioneers continued their hot shooting and led by as many as 13 points before Bush connected on a layup to cut the Transy advantage to 10 points with under two minutes to play in the contest. Baskets and foul shots by Bell and Rickenberg sliced the Pioneers' lead to six points with 10 seconds to play. Transy's JESSICA HANSONnailed two shots from the charity stripe to clinch the victory for the Pioneers by a final score of 75-67.
Rickenberg led the way for Bluffton with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Stallkamp poured in 16 points and pulled down six boards. Bush added 11 points and four rebounds. Senior KARIN SCHALLER (Jenera/Arlington) blocked six shots in the game and tallied four points for the Beavers.
Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 when it travels to Mount St. Joseph. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.