By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
January 12, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team was knocked off by HCAC rival Hanover College on Saturday, January 12, 2008. The loss dropped Bluffton to 6-8 overall, and 1-5 in conference play, while the freshmen-laden Panthers improved to 9-5 overall, and 3-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Bluffton women began the contest with a free throw by LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) and a jumper by ANGIE LEE(Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue), putting the Beavers up, 3-0. KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) hit a jump shot to put Bluffton ahead, 8-2, at the 16:37 mark.
Bush added two more points for the Beavers following a dish from senior AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center). Sophomore VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) picked up a steal and converted on the other end for a 14-11 Bluffton lead nine minutes into the contest.
With just over nine minutes left in the first half, a three-pointer by HOLLY VOGEL put Hanover on top, 16-14. In response, Lee popped a jumper, thanks to a nice dish from Bush, to tie the score. She followed with a hoop from behind the arc, making the score 19-16 in favor of the home team.
STEPHANIE JANKOV (Wooster/Wooster) picked up an assist on Angie Lee's second triple which increased the Bluffton lead to 10 points, 26-16, with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) drove to the hoop, making it 30-22 at the 2:27 mark. Bush chipped in with two more points from KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer), giving the Beavers a 35-30 lead at the break.
To start the second half, Kim Miller snatched a steal and tossed the ball to Buckingham for a drive and score. Buckingham had another layup for a 39-32 Bluffton advantage. A 21-6 Hanover jag over the next five minutes allowed the Panthers to take a 55-48 lead at the 12:37 mark.
A layup by Miller brought the Beavers within three points, 57-54, and LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) knocked down a jumper from the top of the key with 4:58 remaining on the clock to keep the Beavers within striking distance, 63-58.
A three-pointer by LACEY HORNADAY made the final score 73-64 in favor of the Panthers who were swept by the Beavers in 2006-07.
Angie Lee led Bluffton with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. She moved into sixth place on the all-time scoring list at Bluffton with 957 career points. Fellow senior Lindsay Bush had 12 points and grabbed 12 boards for her 13th career double-double. Kim Miller dropped in 10 points and picked up four steals to go along with her five boards, and three assists. Ginny Buckingham added eight points and pulled down four rebounds. Katie Lord and Amanda Bell each chipped in with five points, and Bell also had five boards for the night.
Lacey Hornaday, one of the 10 freshmen dressed for Hanover, led the Panthers with 20 points, including six three-pointers, four assists, two blocks and a steal. TORIN FRANZ had 19 points, while MICAH WHITTED finished with 10 points and four steals.
Bluffton went 22-for-55 (40 percent) from the field, including only three treys, compared to ten triples and a 28-for-54 (51.9 percent) shooting night for Hanover. The Beavers had an advantage at the foul line, hitting 17-of-22 (77.3 percent), while the Panthers were only 7-of-14 (50 percent) on free throws.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will return to action when the Beavers travel to HCAC foe Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, January 16. Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-