By Kate Barringer, sports information assistant
January 28, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team (2-17, 0-8 HCAC) fell in a hard fought contest to the Hanover College Panthers (12-6, 6-2) by a final score of 77-68 on Saturday, January 28, 2006. The Beavers kept the game close thanks to their chances at the charity strip as the team connected on 18 -19 (94 percent) foul shots. Bluffton sent the Panthers to the line for 34 shots as Hanover took advantage of 26 freebees.
Key shots and tight defense kept the game close in the first half as the Beavers lead the game by a basket until junior guard TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) nailed two free throws to give Bluffton a four point lead 8-4 at the 15:58 mark. The game continued to jump back and forth until sophomore ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP (Paulding/Paulding) drained a three to give the Beavers a six point lead, 18-12 with 12:09 remaining in the first half. Bluffton stayed ahead until a key Beaver turnover and a bucket by RACHEL WALTERS gave the Panthers the lead, 22-23 at the 8:52 mark. A lay up from sophomore guard ANGIE LEE(Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) brought Bluffton within two points with 3:41 left in the opening period. Lee managed 13 points in the first half but the Beavers took a four point deficit into the intermission.
Hanover continued to control the game until a lay up by Rickenberg brought the Beavers within three points, 43-40, four minutes into the half. Stallkamp and ANGELA NEWKIRK hit back to back treys as the Panthers maintained their six point lead (51-45) with 14:24 remaining. Tight defense and key free throws by both teams kept the game within five points until a Stallkamp long distance triple cut the Hanover lead to two points, 55-53 midway through the period. The Beaver's net remained dry as the Panthers kept them scoreless for three minutes until another Stallkamp basket pushed Bluffton within four points with seven minutes to play. Hanover turned up the offense and capitalized on key Beaver miscues to take an 11 point advantage at the 5:02 point. A LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) lay in stopped the Panther run to bring Bluffton nine points closer. Free throws in the final minutes allowed Hanover to maintain their lead as the Panthers took the contest by a final score of 77-68.
Stallkamp led the Beavers with 26 points, connected on four shots from behind the arch and hauled in six boards. Lee added 17 points and dished off three assists. Rickenberg also finished in double digits with 11 points, was perfect from the foul line draining five shots and added five assists. Lindsay Bush finished the game with seven rebounds, AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) recorded a team high eight assists and KARIN SCHALLER (Jenera/Arlington) swatted down four blocks for the Beavers.
Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 when it hosts Franklin College in Founders Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.