December 16, 2006
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team found Case Reserve's depth too much as all 12 Spartans played at least nine minutes. The Beavers fell to 0-9 with their 90-71 loss to Case which improved to 6-2 on the year.
Junior AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) gathered ANGIE LEE'S (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) missed three-point attempt on Bluffton's first possession and found the hoop, giving the Beavers their only lead in the game, 2-0, less than 30 seconds into the contest.
DANA DEMPSEY nailed a triple off an assist from ASHLEY HORTON two minutes into the game, putting Case on top for good, 5-2.
When senior point guard TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) converted on an old-fashioned three-point play at the 14:35 mark, the Beavers were down by only a point, 12-11, but Case responded with nine unanswered points, including five from ASHLEIGH TONDO, to open a 21-11 lead less than three minutes later.
Four straight LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) points pulled Bluffton to within five midway through the opening half before Case went on an 8-2 spurt to take a 31-20 lead at the 6:33 mark.
A pair of KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) free throws late in the first half cut the Bluffton deficit to 10 points, 43-33, at the break.
Three Beaver turnovers in the first four minutes of half two helped Case to a 55-37 lead with 16:08 to play in the game.
Freshman VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) took a slick feed from Lindsay Bush and nailed a jumper to keep the margin at 18 points seven minutes into the second stanza.
Another Rickenberg three-point play followed by a pair of Rickenberg free throws cut the Case lead to 14 points, 79-65, with 2:42 to play, but NICHOLE BARNES promptly answered with a triple to slow the rally.
Angie Lee and STEPHANIE JANKOV (Wooster/Wooster) each knocked down both of their attempts at the charity stripe to help the Beavers claw back to within 13 points, 82-69, with 1:22 on the clock, however, Case buried two straight trifectas on its way to the 90-71 victory over Bluffton.
The Beavers hit only 38 percent from the field (23-of-60), while Case was 35-of-72 for 49 percent. Bluffton did its damage at the line, knocking down 24-of-29 attempts, but Case Reserve took advantage from beyond the arc, nailing 7-of-15 attempts and holding the Beavers to 1-of-13 shooting from downtown.
Lindsay Bush led Bluffton with 17 points and nine rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Angie Lee hit for 13 points and knocked down the Beavers only triple in the loss. Junior guard Amanda Bell buried four of five shot attempts on her way to 11 points and five boards. Tanya Rickenberg moved closer to second place on the all-time scoring list at Bluffton as she scored 11 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 night at the free throw line, to go along with her six rebounds.
Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, December 19, 2006, when it plays host to Marygrove College from Detroit. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Founders Hall.