November 23, 2010
OBERLIN, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team hit 14-of-27 shots in the second half en route to a convincing 68-51 win at Oberlin College on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. Oberlin fell to 1-2 on the season, while the Beavers won their second straight in improving to 2-1.
A pair of BRITTANY STEGMAIER (Garfield Heights/Trinity) triples and two EMILY SHELLABARGER (St Marys/Memorial) free throws gave the Beavers an 8-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. Oberlin responded with six straight counters before a couple KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) freebies put Bluffton back on top at the 13:57 mark.
With the score tied at 19, freshman CALANDRA MANNING (Riverside/Stebbins) converted an old-fashioned three-point play for the 22-19 margin with 7:52 to play in the half. Consecutive layins by JESSICA BEATTY (Kettering/Fairmont), RACHEL DAMAN (Defiance/Tinora) and Emily Shellabarger pushed the lead to nine (28-19) before a Manning free throw made the score 29-19 with less than five minutes on the clock.
Manning's theft and conversion at the other end followed a Shellabarger bucket and made the score 34-21. Oberlin held the Beavers at bay over the final three minutes to pull within seven points (34-27) at the break.
The Bluffton advantage hovered between seven and 11 points until a Stegmaier hoop from outside the arc pushed the lead to 12. She followed with another long ball and the Beavers led 58-45 with only 6:31 to play. KIRSTIE RUNION (Cincinnati/Christian) dialed long distance and Stegmaier hit the hoop and harm to give Bluffton a commanding 64-49 lead.
Freshman KYLEE BURKHOLDER (West Unity/Hilltop) got into the scorebook with a chip shot at the 2:26 mark before Stegmaier capped the scoring with a layup for the 68-51 final margin.
Stegmaier established new career highs with 26 points and five three-pointers. She was superb from the field, hitting 10-of-14 shots, including 5-of-7 from distance. She also pulled down a career-best seven boards in the win. Manning, who picked up four steals, followed with nine points while Shellabarger chipped in with eight markers and seven rebounds. Kim Miller collected a team-high 10 caroms.
Bluffton hit a solid 26-of-53 (49.1 percent) from the field, compared to just 18-for-61 by Oberlin (29.5 percent). The Beavers buried 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from beyond the arc and they finished with a 41-33 advantage on the boards. The Yeowomen went 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) at the stripe, while the visitors finished 8-for-12 (66.7 percent).
Bluffton is off this weekend before traveling to Mount St. Joseph to open HCAC action next Wednesday, December 1. The contest with the Lions is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Cincinnati, Ohio.
-BEAVERS-