Franklin started off hot with a 6-1 spurt in the first two minutes of the game. A trey from freshman JENNA REYNOLDS (Logan) pulled the Beavers within one. At the 16:32 mark, KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) hit the jumper to put Bluffton on top for what turned out to be the only time during the game. Following the Miller bucket, the Grizzlies quickly responded with a deuce from SARAH CONDRA.

 

Franklin went on an 8-0 run that was finally stopped by senior GINNY BUCKINGHAM'S(Bluffton) layup with just less than 13 minutes left in the half. At the 6:20 mark, KIRSTIE RUNION (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian) pulled down the defensive board and drove to the hoop at the other end to cut the deficit to three.

 

After a Franklin hoop, sophomore guard ALICIA AMIS (Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) drained a triple to get the Beavers within two points. However, Franklin ended the half with a 13-0 jag, giving the Grizzlies a 15-point edge over the Beavers (37-22).

 

The visitors dominated the second half of the contest by outscoring the home team 52-35 as Miller picked up two quick fouls that sent her to the bench. Freshman LAUREN VOLOSIN(Pickerington/North) hit from distance late in the contest before MANDI LEEMASTER(Fremont/Old Fort) connected with BETH YODER (Marshallville/Smithville) at the arc to end the game, 89-57, in favor of Franklin College.

 

Buckingham paced the Beavers with 11 points, four steals and four rebounds. Runion chipped in with seven points and four boards, while VICKI AUER (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) added eight points in the loss. Reynolds contributed five points and four off the glass while dishing out four assists. The Beavers went 18-of-49 (36.7 percent) from the field, 6-of-17 (35.3 percent) from deep and 15-for-23 (65.2 percent) at the line.

 

Condra led the Grizzlies with 29 points and had the lone block for the night. BRITTANY WILSON had a nice all-around floor game with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists while HEATHER HARPER just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine boards. Franklin finished the game shooting 26-of-60 (43.3 percent) from the field, 28-of-36 (77.8 percent) from the charity stripe and 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from behind the arc. Franklin won the battle on the glass (41-32) and the Beavers struggled with 26 turnovers compared to 16 miscues by the visitors.

 

 

The Bluffton University women's team will host conference rival Anderson University in Founders Hall on Wednesday, February 3. The contest between the Beavers and Ravens is slated for 7:30 p.m.