By; Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
December 1, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team lost its 2007-08 HCAC opener to Franklin College in Founders Hall. The Beavers (3-3, 0-1 HCAC) fell to the Grizzlies (3-2, 1-0 HCAC) by a score of 67-60.

Bluffton started out with LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) going 1-of-2 from the foul line in the first 35 seconds of play, but Franklin rolled off a 7-1 run before a trey from senior AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) and a layup by Bush tied the score at seven with 13 minutes to play in the first half.

The Grizzlies took the lead on a layup from COREY CUTTER and the Beavers' ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) responded with a jumper. Bluffton turnovers and missed shots kept the Grizzlies on top until the 2:12 minute mark when Angie Lee got to the basket, knotting the score at 24.

A layup by KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) gave Bluffton the lead, 26-24, but a three-pointer by Franklin's KELLY SNIDER put the Grizzlies back on top as the final minute of the first half drained from the clock.

30 seconds into the second half, GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) added two points for the Beavers, making the score 28-28. Another Buckingham hoop put the Beavers up by a deuce, but Franklin took advantage of an 11-0 spurt during a span of less than three minutes to take a 39-30 lead over the home team. A trey from Angie Lee and four Lindsay Bush points sliced the Grizzlies' lead to two points following a Bell trifecta with 12:34 to play, but HEATHER HARPER and KELLY SNIDER both dialed long distance to help the Grizzlies open up an eight-point cushion.

Bluffton trimmed the deficit to two points following a Bell make from the line before Franklin closed the game with five free throws down the stretch to seal the victory for the visitors, 67-60.

Amanda Bell paced the Beavers with 14 points, but senior Lindsay Bush stole the night as she led Bluffton with a double-double, including 13 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and she tied her career-high six blocks. Angie Lee and Ginny Buckingham chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Bell dished out six assists for the night. KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) and Ginny Buckingham had two steals each, and Buckingham pulled down nine boards for the Beavers.

Kelly Snider and Heather Harper had 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Grizzlies.

Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 5, when the Beavers travel to face rival Defiance College. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-