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First half too much for Beavers to overcome at Hanover

Game Leaders

Bluffton
Pts: Kim Miller - 14
Reb: Kylee Burkholder - 7
Ast: Kim Miller - 7
Hanover
Pts: Torin Franz - 17
Reb: Torin Franz - 10
Ast: 2 Players (#15, #23) - 3

Team Stats

Bluffton
Hanover

Field Goals

(23-54)
(27-66)

Field Goal %

42.6%
40.9%

Rebounds

31
44

Assists

12
13

Turnovers

24
18
full stats
Posted: Jan 05, 2010

January 5, 2011
By: Steve Yarnell

HANOVER, Indiana - The Bluffton University women's basketball team jumped back into Heartland Conference action with a Wednesday night trip to Hanover College on January 5, 2011. The red-hot Panthers bolted out to a 47-23 haltime lead and held Bluffton off for a 78-59 HCAC victory keeping Hanover perfect at 11-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference. Bluffton slipped to 4-8 overall and 1-4 in the HCAC.

The Beavers took an early 6-2 lead with a layup from junior RACHEL DAMAN (Defiance/Tinora) that was ignited by a KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) steal. The Panther defense pressured the Beavers into five turnovers over the next four minutes which resulted in 15 unanswered points en route to a 17-6 lead. A KYLEE BURKHOLDER (West Unity/Hilltop) jumper ended the offensive drought for the Beavers at the 13:12 mark of the half.  
 
Bluffton cut the deficit to 19-12 on a layup from BRITTANY LEWIS (Springfield/Shawnee). However, Hanover went on another 8-0 run to lead 27-12 at the 8:56 mark of the half. Sophomore LAUREN HUTTON (New Riegel) traded baskets with the Panthers before two Miller free throws cut the deficit to 32-21 with 5:22 to play. Following the Miller markers, Hanover ended the period with a 15-2 run for a 47-23 lead at the break. 

The Beavers started the second half with hoops from Miller and Daman. A trip to the charity stripe by Miller cut into the deficit before a Daman triple trimmed the lead to 47-32. A KIRSTIE RUNION (Cincinnati/Christian) three pulled the Beavers within 13 at the 10:16 mark. Two more Miller free throws at the 6:48 mark is the closest (60-48) the Beavers would get the rest of the way. Hanover pulled away and continued their school-record start (11-0) with a 78-59 victory.

Kim Miller, who went over the 1,000 point plateau against #4 Washington (Mo.), paced the visitors with 14 points, seven assists and six steals. She hit 4-of-7 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line while hauling in four caroms. Rachel Daman chipped in with 12 markers and five rebounds on 5-of-9 shooting. Post players Lauren Hutton and Kylee Burkholder added nine and eight points, respectively. Burkholder ripped down a team-high seven boards, while Hutton collected five rebounds.

Bluffton connected on 23-of-54 (42.6 percent) from the field, compared to 27-of-66 (40.9 percent for the Panthers. The Beavers were 4-of-20 on triples, while Hanover made 7-of-22 from distance. The home team finished 17-of-21 from the stripe, compared to a 9-of-15 night for Bluffton. The visitors turned it over six more times (24-18), while Hanover posted a commanding 43-32 advantage on the boards.

Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, January 8, 2011, when the Beavers host Rose-Hulman. The Heartland Conference contest is slated for 1 p.m. in Founders Hall.

-BEAVERS-