By: Evan Miller, sports information assistant
January 19, 2008
FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team came up short on the road, falling at Franklin College by a final score of 64-56. With the loss, Bluffton's record drops to 6-10 overall, and 1-7 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Grizzlies improved to 6-9, including a 3-4 mark in the HCAC.
Franklin took an early 6-4 lead with 17:02 left in the first half. After falling behind early, the Beavers struggled to find an offensive rhythm with missed field goals and turnovers plaguing Bluffton throughout most of the first half.
LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) knocked down a jumper, making the score 11-6 in favor of Franklin. A 21-4 jag by the Grizzlies, including three triples, made the score 32-10 with 4:21 to play in the half.
With 1:31 left in the first half, a steal by KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) set up KATIE LORD'S (Toledo/Whitmer) three-pointer which made the score 34-18. Bluffton used a pair of hoops on its last two possessions of the first period, a layup by AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center), and another bucket by Lindsay Ebbeskotte, to cut the Franklin advantage to 12 points, 34-22, at the break.
For much of the second half, the Beavers struggled to get within 10 points of Franklin. A pair of ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) free throws made the score 36-25 with 14:42 left on the clock. Franklin answered back with a jump shot by TRACI LIPPOLD.
Bluffton cut the deficit to eight points following a GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) layup with 5:13 left, making the score 51-43. With Franklin continually having an answer for the Bluffton attack, Lindsay Ebbeskotte nailed a three-ball to make it a seven-point game, 53-46.
Buckingham got the hoop and harm with less than two minutes to play and Kim Miller hit four straight at the line to trim the Franklin lead to four points, 58-54, with 52 ticks remaining.
Franklin was a perfect 6-of-6 on free throws the last 35 seconds of the game, nailing down a 64-56 victory over Bluffton.
Ginny Buckingham hit 7-of-10 from the field for a career-high 18 points. She also pulled down six rebounds and blocked a shot. Kim Miller notched her first double-double, hitting 9-of-11 at the foul line for 12 points to go along with her game-high 12 boards. Lindsay Ebbeskotte chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.
COURTNEY SWAIN led four Grizzlies in double fidures with 16 points. LESLIE KINGSEED dropped in 14 points, while HEATHER HARPER and Traci Lippold added 10 each. Harper led Franklin with eight rebounds.
Bluffton shot only 36.2 percent from the field (17-of-47), while Franklin hit 45.1 percent (23-for-51). The Beavers shot 19-of-26 from the free throw line for 73.1 percent. Franklin turned the ball over 22 times, five fewer than the Beavers did.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 23, when it hosts non-conference foe Wooster in Founders Hall. The Beavers will play seven of their nine remaining contests at home. Tip-off against the Fighting Scots is slated for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-