By: Jordon Bruner and Shannon Ramer, sports information assistants
January 31, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team lost to Heartland Conference rival Defiance College (12-9, 5-7 HCAC) by a final score of 60-51 on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. It was the Beavers second loss to the Yellow Jackets this season. With the setback, Bluffton fell to 5-15, with a 3-8 mark in HCAC action.

The Beavers struggled in the first half of the contest due to 23 percent shooting from the field and 10 percent from beyond the arc. The Jackets did not fare much better, shooting 38 percent from the field for a 29-24 halftime lead over the hosts.

MANDY WHITE , who wreaked havoc on the Beavers in the first half, led the Jackets with seven rebounds, nine points and two blocks in the opening stanza.

Things started to swing the Beavers way in the second half, beginning with an early technical foul because of an illegal substitution for Defiance College. ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) hit both free throws to pull the Beavers within three, 29-26.

Bluffton tied the game two minutes later when AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) hit LINDSAY BUSH (Howard East/Knox) for a lay-in which knotted the game at 30. 

Defiance's SARAH BIRD hit a trifecta several minutes later to cap off a 7-0 Yellow Jacket run.

A layup by freshman GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) helped cut the lead to four, 44-40, with 6:47 to play.

The Beavers were unable to capitalize on Defiance's poor shooting as the Jackets only scored five points over the next four minutes of the game. Bluffton turned the ball over four times during that span while only scoring five points on a lay-up by Bush and a trey from Lee as Defiance still clung to a 49-45 lead at the 2:24 mark.

Bluffton remained cold from the field as the Beavers made only one more field goal in the game. Defiance went 5-of-6 from the line over the last minute to seal the victory, taking home a 60-51 win.

Bush had her eighth career double-double, 10 points and 11 rebounds against Defiance College. Lee led the Beavers with 14 points and had four rebounds. Senior TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) put up 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the loss, leaving her only two shy of 500 boards for her career. Freshman LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) also hauled in eight rebounds.

Bluffton hits the road on Saturday, February 3, when it travels to face Anderson University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

-BEAVERS-