By: Evan Miller, sports information assistant
January 16, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team led 31-28 at the half, but the Beavers were unable to pick up their second Heartland Conference victory of the season at Mt. St. Joseph on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. A 31-17 advantage in the second half by the Lions propelled the Mount to a 59-48 win over the Beavers. The loss dropped Bluffton's record to 6-9, 1-6 in the HCAC, while MSJ improved to 4-10 and 3-3 in the conference.
The Beavers opened the game on a positive note. A pair of old-fashioned three-point plays by AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) and ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) put Bluffton on top 6-2 less than three minutes into the contest.
A VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) layup gave Bluffton a 10-4 lead with 14:03 left in the first half. The Beavers allowed the Lions to creep back into the game as Bluffton had a string of three straight turnovers. Senior guard ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) hit her lone three-pointer of the night to slow the Lions and extend the lead back to five points, 13-8.
The Lions knotted the score at 14 on an ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP jump shot. LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) answered on Bluffton's next possession with a triple of her own, giving Bluffton a 17-14 lead with a little over eight minutes left in the first half.
Angie Lee helped her team bolt out to a nine-point lead, 30-21, with three minutes left in the period. The Beavers managed only one Auer free throw over the final three minutes as Mount St. Joseph closed the deficit to three points at the break, 31-28.
Both teams struggled offensively at the start of the second half. Neither team netted a single point during the first four minutes until the Lions removed the lid from their basket and tied the game at 31 thanks to a LAUREN SCHALLER layup.
The Beavers used another three-point play by Bell to take their last lead of the contest, 40-37, with 11:31 to play. Another four-minute dry spell by Bluffton proved to be the difference as MSJ went ahead 43-40 following a pair of KAT O'NEILL hoops.
Bluffton struggled to connect on field goals, making only one basket over the final 11:30 of the contest as Mt. St. Joseph closed the game on a 22-8 run for the 59-48 victory over the visitors.
The Beavers were led in scoring by Angie Lee who contributed 12 points. Lindsay Ebbeskotte came off the bench to score nine points on 3-of-5 shooting in 21 minutes for Bluffton. KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) had a team-high six rebounds. Bell and GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) chipped in with eight and seven points, respectively.
The Beavers struggled mightily from the field, hitting just 15-of-55 shots for 27.3 percent, including a 5-for-32 performance in the second half (15.6 percent). The Lions shot an impressive 46.9 percent (23-49) from the field. The Mount won the battle on the boards, 40-33, but the Lions committed 26 turnovers, four more than Bluffton.
Ashleigh Stallkamp paced the Lions with 15 points, while Kat O'Neill added 14. Lauren Schaller ripped down a game-high 13 rebounds for the Lions.
The Beavers will be back in action Saturday, January 19, at 3 p.m. when they travel to Franklin College.
-BEAVERS-