January 9, 2010

TERRE HUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team limited Rose-Hulman to 15 second half points as the Beavers snapped a nine-game skid with a 56-43 victory on Saturday, January 9, 2010. The Beavers improved to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in the Heartland Conference, while RHIT fell to 1-12 (1-4 HCAC).

With Bluffton trailing 35-33 at the 16:05 mark of the second half following a DONNA MARSHputback, the Beaver defense went to work. Over the next 13 minutes, Bluffton outscored the home team by a 19-2 margin while building a 52-37 advantage with just three minutes to play before a pair of Rose free throws made it a 13-point game.

BECKY RUBLE (Grover Hill/Wayne Trace) drained two of her game-high four triples and junior standout KIM MILLER tallied six straight points during the game-changing jag. GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton) and Miller both hit from in close to finish off the Beavers' first conference win of the season.

Sophomore BRITTANY STEGMAIER (Garfield/Trinity) knocked down a jumper in the paint to get Bluffton on the scoreboard just over a minute into the game. Two minutes later, Buckingham made it 4-2 with a layup. Following a Miller deuce, Stegmaier and Ruble both connected from downtown to push Bluffton's lead to 13-6 at the 12:08 mark.

Another Ruble trifecta and old-fashioned three-point play from Miller made the score 21-11 with just 4:55 to play in the half before RHIT's offense erupted for a 17-6 run to end the period. JULIE HART sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around an ALISA DICKERSON triple as Rose rallied for a 28-27 lead at the break.

Stegmaier and BETH YODER (Marshallville/Smithville) both dialed long distance to open the second half before the home team tallied seven straight counters for a 35-33 lead over the Beavers with 16:05 to play in contest. After Marsh capped the 7-0 spurt, Bluffton took over on both ends of the floor en route to a 56-43 win over the Engineers.

Kim Miller led the visitors with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. She also finished with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Brittany Stegmaier dropped in 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from outside the arc. Fellow sophomore Becky Ruble added 12 points on four triples. She also pulled down four rebounds. Ginny Buckingham cleaned the glass with 13 caroms and eight points. Senior point guard VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) came up with a game-high four steals and she handed out three assists.

Bluffton hit just 22-of-59 (37.3 percent) from the field, but the defense limited Rose to 16-of-49 (32.7 percent). The Beavers connected on 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from distance and 3-of-6 at the line. Rose won the battle on the glass (37-34), but the Engineers coughed it up eight more times than the Beavers (23-15). Donna Marsh paced RHIT with 11 points, 14 boards and two blocks.

The Beavers return to action on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, when they host Manchester College. The contest is slated to tip at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall.

-BEAVERS-