From the beginning of the game, the Beavers found themselves trying to play catch up. The Grizzlies quickly built a 7-0 lead, capped off with a KASEY DOLLENS jumper at the 15:49 mark. Bluffton finally cracked the scoring column thanks to a KIRSTIE RUNION(Cincinnati/Cinc. Christian) layup.

 

The Grizzlies wasted little time forging a double-digit lead with a BRITTNEY WILSON jumper, making the score 12-2 in favor of Franklin. The Beavers next scored with 14:15 left in the first, as KIM MILLER converted a layup and ensuing free throw to make the score 14-5 with the old-fashioned three-point play.

 

At the midway point of the first half Kirstie Runion hit two free throws, but the deficit was still 22-7. An ANNIE TARKINGTON three-pointer following a Bluffton turnover pushed the Franklin lead up to 22 (31-9). Sophomore BETH YODER (Marshallville/Smithville) responded with a three-pointer from KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) with 6:51 to go in the half, making the score 37-18.

 

The Grizzlies used a 7-0 run late in the period to open a 44-18 lead at the break. In the first half, Franklin outscored the Beavers in the paint, 14-4, and the Grizzlies bench outscored Bluffton, 18-0.

 

Bluffton's struggles continued into the second half, as the Beavers never managed to trim the Franklin lead below 20 points. Kirstie Runion grabbed a rebound off a missed Franklin three-pointer and took it in for a layup, scoring the first points of the half and making it 44-20. Five minutes into the second, SARAH CONDRA came up with a steal for Franklin and on the other end, TRACI LIPPOLD converted a layup from Annie Tarkington to make the score 51-24.

 

Minutes later, Kim Miller nailed a jumper which cut the margin to 24 points (54-30). A HEATHER HARPER layup, assisted by MONICA PLANALP gave Franklin a 63-34 advantage. GINNY BUCKINGHAM drilled two free throws after she was fouled at the 8:12 mark, making the score 65-40. The Beavers' last two points were scored by JENNA REYNOLDS (Logan) who made a layup following an ALICIA AMIS (Woodstock/Mechanisburg) steal, but Franklin cruised to an 83-46 win.

 

In the scoring column, Bluffton was led by Ginny Buckingham and Kirstie Runion who each bucketed 10 points. Buckingham was one rebound shy of a double-double, getting nine caroms in the game. Junior Kim Miller dished out a team-high three assists and scored nine points. Bluffton converted 80.0 percent from the free throw line, hitting 16-of-20 attempts. The Beavers struggled from the field, going 14-of-51 (27.5 percent), while turning the ball over 23 times, 13 more miscues than Franklin committed.

 

Franklin was led in scoring by center HEATHER HARPER who dropped in 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Harper also had a team-high seven rebounds. Traci Lippold handed out seven assists in the win and Sarah Condra had three blocks.

The Beavers will try to get back on the winning track when they travel to Goshen College on Saturday, December 19, at 1 p.m.

 

 

-BEAVERS-