The Beaver offense was started by a VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) score, going coast to coast for a layin less than one minute into the game. The Quakers looked unstoppable as KATY BUDA hit two three-pointers within the first minute for a 6-2 lead. The Quakers' deep game was firing on all cylinders as they extended their lead to 17-7 after just four minutes of play.

 

The Quaker shooting seemed as though it would never stop, with Buda hitting another two from behind the arc while extending the lead (20-10). The Beavers came back with a three-pointer of their own by sophomore BECKY RUBLE (Grover Hill/Wayne Trace). KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) put in two free throws after an Earlham layup to keep the deficit at seven.

 

Bluffton did not let the hot shooting Quakers run away with the game as they slowly cut into the Earlham lead. The Beavers brought the game back to within four after a BRITTANY STEGMAIER (Garfield/Trinity) layup. Bluffton finally tied it up with 1:49 left on the clock, but the Quakers took a three-point lead to the break, 38-35.

 

Junior forward Kim Miller led the Beavers out of halftime with a layup after 20 seconds of play, pulling the Beavers within one. Miller added another chip shot for the Beavers to give them their first lead of the night, 39-38. The home team continued to dominate the second half as Ruble added another triple five minutes in, putting Bluffton up by a 50-44 count. The Quakers seemed to have cooled off thanks to the intermission, while the Beavers went on a 20-6 run capped by a BETH YODER (Marshallville/Smithville) three-pointer.

 

The Beavers did not slow down from their start, taking their largest lead of the night after KIRSTIE RUNION (Cincinnati/Cin. Christian) drained a free throw for a 58-46 lead with just 11:28 left on the clock. The Quakers showed a glimpse of their first half fire, trimming the Bluffton lead down to six with just six minutes of play left after a NIKKI DARRETT steal and layup. The Beavers responded to the run with a quick Miller deuce and Auer three to push the lead back to nine with just four minutes left on the clock. The teams continued to trade points, keeping the margin at six points until senior forward GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton) upped the lead to nine with a hoop and harm at the 1:21 mark.

 

Earlham made a final run at the Beavers over the last minute, hitting several shots from behind the arc to try and keep the Quakers in the game. Miller's clutch free throw shooting was the difference as she buried three late foul shots to seal the 79-75 Bluffton victory.

 

Miller again led the offense to the win, putting up 25 points, 11 of which were free throws. She also pulled down seven boards and dished out seven assists. Ruble added 14 for the Beavers off the bench, hitting 2-of-5 from behind the arc. Stegmaier was close behind with 11 for the Beavers. The sophomore also grabbed five boards. Auer chipped in with 10 markers. Runion had five assists for the Beavers and six points of her own.

 

The Quakers scoring was evenly distributed, with four players in the double digits. Darrett led them with 17 points and five rebounds. The other contributors with double digits were Buda with 12, including 4-of-5 on three pointers. Her four makes were all in the first five minutes of the game. MICHELLE MIRANDA and PRINCESS DARNELL chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

 

Bluffton went 27-of-51 (52.9 percent) from the field, including Miller's 7-for-13, while Earlham hit 28-of-59 (47.5 percent). Both teams capitalized from the line as the Beavers were 18-of-24 (75.0 percent) from the charity stripe and the Quakers 6-of-7 (85.7 percent). The Quakers proved more proficient from the three-point line, hitting 13-of-28 (46.4 percent), while the Beavers made just 7-of-22 (31.8 percent). Both teams struggled with the ball, as Bluffton had 21 turnovers, one less than the visitors.

The Bluffton University women's basketball team will be in Founders Hall next Wednesday, December 2, when the Beavers face Mt. St. Joseph for their first Heartland Conference battle. The contest is slated to tip at 7:30 p.m.