December 20, 2010
HIRAM, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team ran into a hot outside shooting Hiram squad on Monday, December 20, 2010. The Terriers connected on 10-of-22 shots from distance, compared to just 4-of-20 by the Beavers, en route to a 74-55 win over Bluffton. Hiram improved to 6-3 on the season while the Beavers slipped to 4-5 overall.
Hiram jumped out to a quick 13-4 lead over the Beavers less than five minutes into the opening stanza thanks to five buckets and a pair of free throws. The visitors responded with a 6-0 run which consisted of two KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. Johns) freebies and back-to-back BRITTANY STEGMAIER (Garfield/Trinity) baskets, making it 13-10 with 12:26 to play in the half.
A BETH YODER (Marshallville/Smithville) triple pulled Bluffton within two (17-15) before the home team used a 10-2 spurt to forge a 10-point lead (27-17) with 6:03 on the clock. An 8-5 Bluffton run was capped by a RACHEL DAMAN (Defiance/Tinora) jumper from KIM MEYER(Millbury/Lake), pulling the Beavers within five points at 30-25 less than three minutes later. The home team sandwiched a TIFFANY SHIELDS three-pointer and a BRENNA HOST chip shot around two Kim Miller free throws for a 35-27 lead at the half.
The home team came out of the break firing, dropping in three consecutive trifectas on its way to a 44-29 lead less than two minutes into the second half. Kim Meyer responded with five points and Kim Miller hit from in close making it a 10-point game before a pair of Brittany Stegmaier makes from the foul line cut the deficit to single digits.
Two BRITTANY LEWIS (Springfield/Shawnee) free throws and a Stegmaier layin kept the Beavers within striking distance at the 12:36 mark, but seven consecutive Hiram counters gave the Terriers a 55-40 spread midway through the period. FRANCENA TATE (Fostoria/St. Wendelin) and Brittany Stegmaier both dialed long distance as the Beavers clawed to within nine points (57-48).
Kim Miller tickled the twine twice and Stegmaier chipped in with a pair of foul shots, making it an eight-point game (60-52) with 6:10 to play. Hiram answered again with a 7-0 rally that pushed the margin to 15 points at the 2:34 mark.
The Beavers managed just three Kim Miller points during the final 2:25 of the game as Hiram finished with a 74-55 win over Bluffton.
Kim Miller led the visitors with her 11th career double-double and second in as many games. She went for 17 points and 11 rebounds, closing in on the 1,000 point mark with 992 for her career. Miller also dished out two assists, blocked two shots and came up with two thefts. Stegmaier hit for double digits with 15 points, four rebounds and one assist. KYLEE BURKHOLDER (West Unity/Hilltop) collected eight caroms and added six points.
Bluffton finished 20-of-61 (32.8 percent) from the field, compared to 23-of-54 (42.6 percent) for the Terriers. Hiram drilled 10-of-22 from distance (45.5 percent), while the Beavers struggled to a 4-of-20 (20.0 percent) night outside the arc. Bluffton converted on 11-of-13 at the line (84.6 percent), but Hiram went to the stripe 25 times, making 18 of their attempts. Both teams pulled down 39 rebounds. Bluffton turned it over four more times than the home team (12-8).
The Beavers are off until they travel to Ohio Wesleyan for their Holiday Tournament on Wednesday, December 29. Bluffton will match up with the Battling Bishops at 8 p.m.
-BEAVERS-