February 3, 2007
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow first half as the Beavers fell at Anderson by a final score of 68-56 on Saturday, February 3, 2007. The loss drops Bluffton to 5-16, 3-9 in the Heartland Conference, while the Ravens improved to 14-8, 9-4 HCAC.
Points came at a premium early on with Bluffton finally getting into the scoring column at the 16:48 mark of the first half when TANYA RICKENBERG (Paulding/Paulding) knocked down a jumper.
A pair of GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) free throws and a LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) layup tied the contest at six with 15:09 to play in the half.
TIFFANY BOWSHER put Anderson up by five points before five straight VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) points and a Rickenberg layup knotted the score at 13 with 12 minutes on the clock.
Another cold spell by the Beavers allowed Anderson to build an 11-point advantage as Bluffton went scoreless for nearly eight minutes.
The Ravens limited Bluffton to only one basket and three free throws during the final 12 minutes of the first half, going to the break with a 33-18 lead over the Beavers.
To start the second half, Anderson scored consecutive buckets before AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) drained a triple to slow the onslaught.
Another three-ball from Bell cut the deficit to 13 points, 39-26, less than five minutes into the half.
Freshman KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) ended a six-minute scoreless drought for the Beavers when she found the hoop at the 9:10 mark.
Rickenberg and Bell both drained triples to trim Anderson's advantage to 47-37 with just under six minutes to play.
Consecutive layups by Bell, a pair of Rickenberg makes from the stripe and a Bush hoop had the Beavers within eight points, 62-54, with 42 ticks remaining, but the Ravens' 14-of-18 shooting from the foul line over the last four minutes of the game sealed the 68-56 victory for Anderson.
Both teams struggled from the field, but Anderson hit 21-of-31 attempts from the charity stripe for 68 percent while the Beavers were only 8-of-14 at the line for 57 percent. The Ravens hauled in 46 rebounds, including 16 on the offensive end, to only 38 for Bluffton.
Tanya Rickenberg paced the Beavers with a double-double, 13 points and 13 rebounds which matched her career high. Her 13 boards gives her 511 for her career and she is now one of only two Bluffton women to score 1,000 points and collect 500 rebounds, the first was Paula Slaughter. Amanda Bell led the Beavers with 16 points and dished out four assists. LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) ripped down six boards for the visitors.
Bluffton returns to action Wednesday, February 7, 2007, when it travels to face the HCAC-leading Manchester College Spartans. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.