By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
February 2, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team lost to HCAC rival Anderson University, 57-54, on Saturday, February 2, 2008. The Beavers dropped to 8-12 overall and 2-9 in conference play, while the Ravens improved to 14-6 overall with a 9-3 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Bluffton started off the game with a layup from KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's), thanks to an assist from AMANDA BELL(Napoleon/Liberty Center). Miller tied up the game at six with a jumper at the 15:22 mark.
LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) knocked down a trey which gave Bluffton the edge, 9-8. A dish from Miller to KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) followed by a Bell triple put the Beavers up by five, 15-10, at the 11:24 mark of the first half.
A layup from LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) gave Bluffton a nine-point lead with 8:48 remaining in the half. Senior ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) hit from behind the arc thanks to a dish from Bell. Bush found GINNY BUCKINGHAM(Bluffton/Bluffton) for a layin and the final points of the half, making the score 28-26 in favor of Bluffton at the half.
Anderson took control of the game with a 12-0 run to open the second half. Ebbeskotte responded with a layup and Bell hit four straight from the charity stripe to make the score 43-34 in favor of the visitors. A layup by Buckingham and a Lee drive added to Bluffton's momentum. Buckingham then hit Lee for two points, and Buckingham picked up a steal and converted it on the other end to again pull the Beavers within nine points, 53-44.
After a block by Bush, Lord fed a Buckingham layup at the 4:08 mark. Bush responded with two free throws while Bell hit another three-point basket. She followed with two free throws, and Buckingham went 1-of-2 at the line to make the score 57-54, but it was not enough for the victory as the Beavers misfired three times during the final 26 seconds.
Amanda Bell paced the Beavers with 14 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. Ginny Buckingham and Angie Lee chipped in with 10 points each, and Buckingham snared nine boards and four steals. Lindsay Ebbeskotte and Lindsay Bush finished with seven and six points, respectively, while Bush rejected four shots and Ebbeskotte tied her career-high with two blocks.
The Ravens were led by KAYLA MARTIN who picked up a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with four blocks. TIFFANY BOWSHER added 12 points and eight boards for Anderson. MANDY SEWARD dished out nine assists and picked up three steals.
Bluffton sank 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the charity stripe, while Anderson made 8-of-10 (80 percent). The Ravens hit 22-for-61 (36.1 percent) from the field, compared to 17-of-50 (34 percent) for the Beavers. Both teams drained five treys and Anderson grabbed seven more boards than Bluffton, 41-34.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will return to action on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, when the Beavers host HCAC-leading Manchester College. Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall.
-BEAVERS-