By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
December 14, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team ruled the court as they defeated Oberlin College and set a new school record with 14 three-pointers, breaking the previous record of 12 set by the 1995-96 squad against Wilmington College. The Beavers improved to 5-4 on the season with their 78-53 win over the Yeowomen. Bluffton's 5-4 mark is its best since the Beavers won five of their first nine games in 1998-99.
The Beavers started strong during the first few minutes of action as senior ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) found KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) for the first two points of the game. A layup by GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) and a trey from VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) gave the Beavers a 7-2 lead at the 17:17 minute mark.
After a three-point bucket from Lee, Vicki Auer upped the Beavers' advantage to 19-9 with the a pair of triples and an old-fashioned three-point play. Bluffton continued to dominate the first half with a jumper from Kim Miller and a trey from senior AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center). LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) chipped in with a hoop and LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) hit nothing but net from behind the arc, making the score 29-11 just ten minutes into the contest.
Amanda Bell and Angie Lee both hit from downtown to increase the Beavers' cushion and Buckingham drove into the paint and dished out a slick pass to Angie Lee who responded with a jumper for a 41-18 Bluffton lead. After a Buckingham chip shot, Oberlin hit a pair of freebies with less than two seconds on the clock to make it 43-22 at the break.
A KATIE THOMPSON triple at the 16:38 mark of the second half cut the Bluffton lead to 16 points and forced the Beavers to call a timeout. Kim Miller went two-for-two at the charity stripe, making the score 48-30 before five points from Angie Lee and a Bush layin created the spark Bluffton needed. Ebbeskotte knocked down a jumper off a feed from Bush, increasing the lead to 25 points, 57-32.
Ebbeskotte buried another three-pointer for the Beavers, and KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) passed cross court to a wide open Amanda Bell who dropped in another trifecta which made the score 65-32 in favor of the home team.
The Beavers lost their edge as the Yeowomen went on a 16-2 run over the next eight minutes. Buckingham and Bell answered with a layup and a trey, respectively. Two Ginny Buckingham free throws and consecutive three-pointers from Katie Lord to close out the game made the final score 78-53 as the Beavers upped their mark to 5-4 on the season.
Angie Lee led the Beavers with 17 points, nine of which were from behind the three-point arc. Amanda Bell, who finished with 14 points, drilled a career-high four treys and picked up three steals and six boards. Vicki Auer added 14 points for the Beavers, pulled down five rebounds, dished out three assists and knocked down three triples. Ginny Buckingham and Lee each cleaned the glass with seven boards, while freshman Kim Miller chipped in six points, three steals, and handed out a career-high nine assists for the victors.
LIZ THOMPSON and RONEISHA KINNEY paced the Yeowomen with 10 points apiece. Alyssa Clark led Oberlin with six assists.
The Bluffton women hit 6-of-7 free throws (85.7 percent) compared to 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) for Oberlin. The incredible three-point shooting, 14-of-30 for 46.7 percent, gave Bluffton the advantage throughout the game. Bluffton held a slight margin on the boards (37-36), but the Beavers committed 18 turnovers while they forced Oberlin into 28 miscues. The Bluffton women were unselfish in the victory, dropping 27 dimes on the Yeowomen.
The Beavers return to action on Monday, Dec. 17, when they travel to Ursuline College. The contest is slated to start at 7 p.m.
-BEAVERS-