January 27, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team showed that its three-game winning streak was far from a fluke as it gave Heartland Conference leader Rose-Hulman all it wanted before the Engineers used a late 6-0 surge to improve to 18-2 overall, 10-1 in the HCAC with their 60-55 victory over the Beavers on Saturday, January 27, 2007. With the loss, Bluffton falls to 5-14, 3-7 in HCAC action.
Despite limiting Rose to only 10 points through the first 10 minutes of the opening half, Bluffton could not find the range as the Engineers led 10-2 until TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) broke the ice with 9:44 to play in the first period, trimming the deficit to six points.
Following a SUZY CARLSON layup, the Beavers got untracked with a 9-1 run which included five points from Rickenberg and tied the contest at 13 with just over seven minutes to play in the half.
Bluffton fashioned a 9-0 jag to end the first half thanks to a LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) layin, a pair of AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) freebies and five consecutive ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) points as the Beavers went to the break with a stunning 24-15 lead over the Engineers.
When freshman LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) buried a trifecta from the top of the key, she gave the Beavers their largest lead of the game, 27-15, less than a minute into the second half. She dialed long distance again following a BRITTANY MOLINE three-pointer to give the Beavers a 10-point lead, 32-22, at the 14:47 mark.
The Engineers trimmed the deficit to four points before Rickenberg slowed the rally with an old-fashioned three-point play with 12:54 to play in the game.
With Rose-Hulman threatening to overtake the Beavers, Rickenberg again answered the call, this time with a deep triple which gave the Beavers a 40-36 lead.
Ebbeskotte hit her third trifecta from the top of the key, picked off an errant Rose pass and Angie Lee was the recipient, giving Bluffton a 47-39 lead with just over six minutes to play.
The Engineers converted on three Bluffton turnovers in the span of a minute to take their first lead of the game, 50-49, since the six-minute mark of the opening half.
Not ready to go away quietly, Ebbeskotte and Bush found the hoop to put the Beavers back on top, 53-50, with 3:23 to play.
Six straight REBEKAH FORSYTH points and four SUZY CARLSON makes from the charity stripe sealed the outcome for the Beavers as Rose-Hulman came back for the 60-55 win over an improving Bluffton women's team.
Both teams struggled from the field with Bluffton slightly better at 36.5 percent (19-52) compared to Rose's 18-of-51 for 35.3 percent. The Beavers hit 6-of-17 from outside the arc, but Bluffton struggled from the free throw line, making 11-of-16 (68.8 percent). The Engineers were outstanding from the stripe, nailing 20-of-23 attempts for 87 percent. The battle on the boards went to Bluffton, 39-30, but the Beavers could not overcome their 25 turnovers for the game.
Lindsay Ebbeskotte set a new career-high with 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Tanya Rickenberg also dropped in 13 points on the Engineers while pulling down five rebounds. Angie Lee and Amanda Bell chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively. Lindsay Bush hauled in a game-high 14 rebounds and finished the night with three rejections. Bell distributed a game-high five assists for the Beavers.
Rose-Hulman standouts Rebekah Forsyth and Suzy Carlson again led the Engineers to victory with 19 and 17 points respectively. Forsyth ripped down a team-high 12 rebounds for the double-double.
Bluffton concludes its seven-game homestand when it hosts backyard rival Defiance College on Wednesday, January 31, in Founders Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-