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Ravens fly past Beavers, 71-64

Posted: Jan 21, 2006

By Molly Burnell, sports information assistant
January 21, 2006

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team fell to Anderson University on Saturday, January 21, 2006 in Founders Hall by a final score of 71-64. With the loss the Beavers fall to 2-15 overall and 0-6 in the HCAC, while Anderson moves to 10-7 and 3-3 in the conference. For the contest both teams shot 40 percent. Bluffton connected on 24-60 shots from the field compared to the Ravens who managed 27-67 buckets. The Beavers pulled down 26 rebounds while Anderson grabbed 39 boards, including 12 on the offensive end. The Ravens hit six three-pointers and the Beavers nailed three triples in the contest.

Anderson came out and hit two quick jumpers, one by CHELSEA HAINES and the other by STACIE JENNINGS to take an early four-point lead. Sophomore ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP (Paulding/Paulding) connected on a jumper of her own to put Bluffton on the board three minutes into the contest. Haines drained one of her five three-pointers of the contest to give Anderson a five-point lead at the 16:48 mark. Junior TANYA RICKENBERG (Defiance/Paulding) diced her way to the hoop to cut the Ravens' lead to three points with 16:38 to play. The next four minutes proved to be a defensive struggle as neither team managed a bucket until Anderson's JESSICA HAMMAN ended the scoring drought when she connected with 12:47 to play. Rickenberg put the Beavers back on the board with a jumper and two free throws to knot the contest at 11. Anderson mounted an 12-2 run as they took a 10-point lead with under eight minutes remaining in the period. Stallkamp ended the Ravens' run when she connected on a layup to cut the Anderson advantage to eight points with 6:20 to play. Over the next six minutes both teams battled hard, nailing key shots when necessary and playing tight defense, as the Ravens took a seven-point lead, 36-29, at the half.

The Ravens drained four buckets in the opening minutes of the second period to take a 13-point lead (44-31) less than three minutes into the half. Bluffton battled hard and would not give up as two Stallkamp free throws and a Rickenberg basket brought the Beavers to within nine points with 16:03 remaining. Bluffton turned up the effort defensively and connected on key shots as a KARIN SCHALLER (Jenera/Arlington) jumper cut the Ravens' advantage to six points. Sophomore LINDSEY BUSH(Howard/East Knox) converted on two SARAH BRUNER (Wauseon/Pettisville) steals to pull Bluffton within two points with 9:17 to play. The Beavers played solid offense and tough defense to keep the game close until a LAUREN VAIL three-pointer gave Anderson a six-point lead. A Stallkamp layup brought Bluffton back to within three points with less than two minutes to play in the contest, but key free throws in the final minutes by the Ravens propelled them to a seven-point victory, 71-64.   

Stallkamp led the way for the Beavers with a career-high 26 points. The sophomore also grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists. Rickenberg managed 19 points and a team-high four assists. Bush scored six points and blocked five shots. Bruner pulled down a team-high seven boards for the Beavers. 

Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 when it travels to face HCAC rival Defiance College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.