By: Chase Cupples, sports information assistant
December 9, 2006
TERRA HAUTE, Ind. - Poor shooting by the Bluffton University women's basketball team and the play of Engineers' standouts REBEKAH FORSYTH and SUZY CARLSON kept the Beavers winless at Rose-Hulman on Saturday, December 9, 2006, as the Engineers took control in the second half for an 81-56 victory. Bluffton stands at 0-8, 0-3 in the Heartland Conference, while Rose improves to 8-1 overall with a spotless 4-0 mark in the HCAC.
LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) scored the first points of the game on the Beavers' first possession. KATIE THARPanswered with a layup on an assist from Suzy Carlson. The Engineers missed twice on their ensuing possession but they got both rebounds and found Carlson for the open trifecta.
A pair of foul shots by ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) and VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/ Roger Bacon) gave the Beavers a three-point lead, 10-7, six minutes into the game.
The Engineers then went on a six-point run with a jumper by Katie Tharp followed by two foul shots and a basket by Suzy Carlson.
A three-pointer by Angie Lee tied the game at 13 with 11:46 to play in the first half.
The Engineers responded with a 12-0 run which included six foul shots and three baskets.
TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) knocked down a triple and a layup and AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) freed herself in the paint, making the score 30-24 in favor of the Engineers at the 3:07 mark.
Bluffton went scoreless during the last three minutes of the opening stanza as Rose took a 34-24 lead into halftime.
The Engineers used tremendous foul shooting to their advantage by making 15-of-16 in the first half for an impressive 94 percent.
Much like the first half, Lindsay Bush scored first on a jumper. Two minutes later, she found the hoop thanks to a Tanya Rickenberg assist. Angie Lee and Vicki Auer both got the three-ball to fall, making the score 52-43 midway through the second half.
Carlson and Forsyth went to work late in the game, leading the Engineers on a 29-13 spurt over the game's final nine minutes to help Rose-Hulman secure an 81-56 victory over the Beavers while improving to 8-1 and 4-0 in the HCAC.
Bluffton was led by Tanya Rickenburg with 14 points, three steals, and three assists. Rickenberg is currently third all-time at Bluffton with 1,027 career points and she trails Paula Slaughter by only 32 for second place. Freshman Vicki Auer also hit double figures, knocking down a career-high 13 points on 2-of-3 shooting from three-point range and 7-of-11 from the free throw line. Angie Lee also made two triples, adding 10 points. Amanda Bell picked up three steals.
The Beavers return to action when they travel to Case Western Reverse on Saturday, December 16, 2006. The contest is scheduled to tip-off at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-