November 22, 2011
By: Josh Bruner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team hosted Oberlin College on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The lead went back and forth through the first half with Oberlin taking a 34-31 advantage to the break. The Beavers struggled in the second period as the Yeowomen pulled away for the 68-56 win. The Beavers fell to 1-2 after the loss, while the Yeowomen improved to 2-1.
The game had an unusual start as the Yeowomen were whistled for a technical prior to the tip for a wrong uniform number. The Beavers failed to convert on the first two free throws and Oberlin quickly responded by hitting its first two shots for a 5-0 lead.
The Beavers responded with seven points, taking a 7-5 lead after a Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity) three-pointer at the 17-minute mark. Oberlin did not trail for long as the visitors hit a free throw and followed with a layup to regain the edge.
Neither team could take the advantage over the next four minutes as they were tied 14-14 with 13:23 left in the half. A Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) layup put the Beavers on top before the Yeowomen answered quickly and took a four-point lead after an Ashley Young three, 22-18.
Two consecutive Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop) layups tied the game at 22-22 with just 8:10 left before the break. The teams continued to trade baskets and they once again tied the game at 28 with three minutes left in the half.
Freshman Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) stepped up and hit one from distance to push the Beavers up by three, but the Yeowomen took control after the Bluffton triple, bucketing six points and holding Bluffton scoreless to end the half with a 34-31 lead.
Oberlin continued the run into the second half as they quickly opened up a 40-31 lead after an Allison Gannon layup. The Beavers responded with a 6-0 run of their own as a Lauren Hutton (New Riegel) jumper pulled Bluffton back within one possession, 40-37, with 15:23 left in the game.
Bluffton took one last shot at the lead when Hutton second three-pointer in 43 seconds trimmed the deficit to 64-55 at the 3:41 mark. The Beavers managed just one more point as Oberlin took the 68-56 win.
The Beaver offense was led by Hutton who went 7-of-11, including 2-of-2 from deep, for 16 points. Stegmaier added 10 and dished out four assists. Lewis and Coburn each contributed nine markers on the night.
The Warriors offense was led by Gannon's double-double, 22 points and 13 boards. Kelly Warlich just missed a double-double with 15 counters and nine rebounds. Marquette chipped in with 11 points.
Oberlin out-shot the Beavers, going 27-of-57 (47.7 percent), 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from downtown and 6-of-12 (50 percent) from the charity stripe. Bluffton was 22-of-64 (34.4 percent), 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) from behind the arc and 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) at the line. The Yeowomen also had the advantage on the glass, pulling down 45 rebounds, compared to Bluffton's 38. The Beavers forced 13 miscues by Oberlin, while only giving up the ball eight times.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 30, when they host Mount St. Joseph in the Heartland Conference opener. The contest in Founders Hall is slated to tip at 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-