By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
February 6, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team lost to HCAC-leading and defending champion Manchester College, 64-61, on Wednesday, February 6, 2008. The Beavers dropped to 8-13 overall and 2-10 in conference play, while the Spartans improved to 14-6 overall with a 9-2 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The three Bluffton seniors netted the first five points of the game as LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) opened the scoring with a free throw. ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) converted a layin and a jumper from AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) put the Beavers up, 5-3, at the 15:45 mark.
GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) got to the rack, thanks to an assist from KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer). Bell then picked up a steal and added two more points, giving Bluffton the 12-8 edge. With 4:50 left in the first half, a layup from Lee made the score 22-18 in favor of the home team.
After a layin from Bush, LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson) and Lee both sank triples. Bell hit a pair from the charity stripe to give Bluffton a three-point lead at halftime, 34-31.
The start of the second half looked like a carbon copy of the Anderson contest as the Spartans went on a 10-0 run before Lord slowed the onslaught with a jumper at the 13:56 mark. A dish from KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) resulted in a Bush layup. The senior post then snatched an offensive rebound and put it back up and in to pull the Beavers within one, 41-40.
A layup from Bell and a three-pointer by Lord put the Beavers on top, 53-50. At the 3:40 mark, Lord drilled another triple. Miller collected her own miss and dropped it in before Ebbeskotte hit from distance to give Bluffton the slim edge, 61-60, but it was not enough as Manchester took advantage of an offensive rebound with six seconds left for a 64-61 victory.
Lindsay Bush led the Beavers with a career-high 18 rebounds and 11 points for her 14th career double-double. Bush and Amanda Bell both had two blocks while Bell also picked up 12 points and three steals on the night. Lindsay Ebbeskotte and Katie Lord finished with 10 and eight points, respectively. Kim Miller grabbed 12 boards, dished out four assists and chipped in with six points for the Beavers.
KELLY MEIKLEJOHN paced Manchester with 19 points and eight boards. JESSICA HENN picked up a double-double, including a team-high 10 rebounds and 10 points. SARAH BOSE chipped in with 11 points and four steals for the night.
Bluffton went 22-for-59 (37.3 percent) from the field, compared to 23-of-63 (36.5 percent) for Manchester. Both teams sank five treys and the Beavers snatched 13 more rebounds than the Spartans, 51-38. Bluffton made 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the charity stripe, while Manchester sank 13-of-24 (54.2 percent). The Spartans committed only 13 turnovers, eight fewer than the home team.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, February 9, 2008, when the Beavers travel to HCAC foe Transylvania University. Tip time is slated for 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-