By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
February 20, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team tore up HCAC-rival Mount St. Joseph, 56-48, on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. The Beavers improved to 9-15 overall and 3-12 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Mt. St. Joseph dropped to 6-18 overall and 5-10 in the HCAC.
The Beavers took an early lead when freshman KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) knocked down the first four points. ANGIE LEE(Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) hit a jumper that put the Beavers up, 6-4. At the 14-minute mark, senior AMANDA BELL(Napoleon/Liberty Center) nailed a triple to give Bluffton an 11-8 lead.
With less than 13 minutes left in the first half, Miller pulled down an offensive board and converted to up the Beavers' edge to five points, 13-8. LINDSAY BUSH (Howard/East Knox) added two more points, thanks to an assist from LINDSAY EBBESKOTTE(Delphos/Jefferson). At the 8:11 mark, Miller drove to the bucket and found a wide open Bush who got the hoop for a 19-12 advantage.
A layup from Bell made the score 25-14. Ebbeskotte chipped in with a jumper to increase the Bluffton lead to 15 points. Former Beaver ASHLEIGH STALLKAMP responded with a jumper, but the Beavers took a 31-18 lead to the break.
GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton/Bluffton) ignited the Bluffton offense in the second half with a layup. At the 16-minute mark, Bell dialed long distance to make the score 36-26 in favor of the home team. After going more than four and a half minutes without a score, Lee broke the dry spell with a layin.
A jumper by Miller and a chip shot by Bush increased the Beavers' lead to 10 points, 42-32. Buckingham added consecutive layups for Bluffton. With less than four minutes on the clock, Bush went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. At the 1:06 mark, a Bush layup upped the score to 52-46. Bell and Miller both drained two freebies apiece in the final 25 seconds to give Bluffton the 56-48 victory over HCAC-rival MSJ.
Ginny Buckingham established a new career-high with 16 rebounds. She also tallied seven points and two steals for the Beavers. Kim Miller paced Bluffton with 15 points, nine assists, six boards, and one block. Lindsay Bush chipped in with 12 points, to go along with her eight rebounds and two blocks. Amanda Bell and Angie Lee finished with 10 points each, and Lindsay Ebbeskotte added two points for the Beavers.
Ashleigh Stallkamp and MEGAN SMITH had 14 and 12 points, respectively, and Stallkamp picked up a game-high three steals and five assists. LAUREN SCHALLER pulled down eight boards and bucketed six points for the Lions.
Bluffton went 14-for-20 (70 percent) from the charity stripe, including a perfect 8-of-8 in the final four minutes, while Mt. St. Joseph converted on 13-of-15 attempts (86.7 percent). The Beavers had two treys for the night and the Lions only made one. Bluffton hit 20-of-59 (33.9 percent) from the field, compared to 17-of-59 (28.8 percent) for MSJ. The Beavers won the battle on the glass, 46-38.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will play its final 2007-08 game on Saturday, February 23, 2008, when the Beavers host Transylvania University for Senior Night. A trio of four-year starters, Amanda Bell, Lindsay Bush, and Angie Lee will be honored. Tip time is slated for 3 p.m. in Founders Hall.
-BEAVERS-