By: Evan Miller, sports information assistant
February 9, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team fell at Transylvania on Saturday, February 9, 2008. The Pioneers handed the Beavers a 68-55 loss, dropping the Beavers to 8-14 overall and 2-11 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Transy improved to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the HCAC.
Senior LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) got the Beavers started with a jumper on Bluffton's opening possession of the game. The hoop was a sign of things to come, as Bush recorded double-double number 15 of her career.
At the 16:45 mark, AMANDA BELL (Napoleon/Liberty Center) converted on a layup thanks to an assist from KIM MILLER(Delphos/St. John's) that tied the game at four. Miller stuffed Transylvania's KELSEY MCCARTY moments later, getting a defensive stop for Bluffton. McCarty proved to be the bane of Bluffton, finishing the contest with a game-high 28 points.
Transylvania gradually upped its advantage when SARA SEXTON hit a jumper, making the score 10-6 in favor of the Pioneers. Minutes later, Transylvania doubled its lead following an OLIVIA AKRIDGE jumper which made the score 14-6.
Sophomore KATIE LORD (Toledo/Whitmer) buried a jump shot to cut Transylvania's lead to 16-13 midway through the first half. She then found Amanda Bell for a three-ball two possessions later, making the score 20-16.
At the 6:37 mark, Bell dialed long distance, with an assist from sophomore LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE (Delphos/Jefferson), trimming the Transy lead to just three points, 24-21. The Pioneers used a 12-4 run during the final 6:37 of the first half to take a 36-25 lead at the break.
The Beavers again started slowly in the second half, scoring only two baskets over the first six minutes as Transy maintained its 13-point lead.
Bluffton used an Amanda Bell steal to get to within nine points following an ANGIE LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) layup. Kelsey McCarty answered for the Pioneers giving them another double-digit lead at 47-35 with just under 10 minutes to play.
BRITTANY HENDERLIGHT hit one of two free throws, making the score 53-40 with 7:24 left on the clock. The Beavers looked to be poised for a late comeback when Kim Miller connected on a jump shot which made the score 55-46 with 4:36 to play, but Transylvania promptly responded with a Kelsey McCarty three-pointer on the Pioneers' next possession.
Transy led by as many as 17 points with 1:34 on the clock and held off Bluffton 68-55 despite three Buckingam free throws in the final 44 seconds of action.
The Beavers hit only 19-of-55 shots from the field for 34.5 percent, compared to 25-of-54 (46.3 percent) for Transylvania. The Beavers finished 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) at the stripe, while the Pioneers converted on 16-of-26 free throws (61.5 percent). Bluffton had a commanding 42-30 edge on the glass, but the Beavers turned the ball over 23 times, 11 more miscues than the home team committed.
Lindsay Bush led Bluffton with 13 points and 10 boards. Kim Miller dished out a team-high five assists for Bluffton. Ginny Buckingham chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds. Katie Lord and Lindsay Ebbeskotte added seven points apiece.
Kelsey McCarty paced the Pioneers with 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting from the field. Brittany Henderlight showed her versatility with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, February 16, 2008, when it travels to Hanover College. The contest is slated to start at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-