December 3, 2011
By: Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team outscored Franklin College 32-25 in the second stanza, but the visitors held on for a 60-48 win over the Beavers on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Bluffton slipped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin stayed perfect at 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the HCAC.

Following two minutes of scoreless action to open the game, the Grizzlies capitalized on a foul by Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop). Just 10 seconds later, senior Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Michanicsburg) put the Beavers up 3-2 with a bucket from behind the arc.

Franklin pulled ahead by five before a three-pointer from senior Beth Yoder (Marshalville/Smithville) cut the Grizzlies' lead to two. Franklin went on a 24-8 run over the final 11:25 of the half to open up a commanding 35-16 lead at the break.

Senior Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora) started off the scoring for the Beavers in the second period. Less than two minutes in, she hit from distance thanks to a dish from Amis. Daman also capitalized on a Franklin foul and added another counter, making the score 35-20.

Senior Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) followed with a triple courtesy of Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley). Exactly a minute later, Amis put in a layup off a no look pass from Lewis, cutting Franklin's lead to 12.

Franklin once again stretched its lead to 17, only to have it trimmed to 10 at the 10:13 mark. Senior Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity) started the run with a triple before freshman post Sharonda Martin (Dayton/Stivers) dropped in a chip shot from Stegmaier. Another three-point bomb from Yoder and a Lewis layup made the score 47-37.

Bluffton got within 55-46 thanks to a pair of Coburn free throws at the 4:16 mark, but the Grizzlies limited the home team to a Brenna Kurilec (Mt. Gilead/Gilead Christian) layin with 25 ticks remaining as Franklin improved to 7-0 with the 60-48 win over the Beavers.

Amis led the Beavers with nine points. Yoder and Martin contributed eight and seven points, respectively. Lewis led the Beavers with a career-high eight rebounds and she also handed out a career-best tying seven dimes, while Coburn picked up six caroms. SARAH CONDRA paced the Grizzlies with 20 points (5-of-17 from the field), eight boards and five assists.

Bluffton hit 15-of-53 (28.3 percent) from the field, compared to 19-of-58 (32.8 percent) for the visitors. The Beavers struggled converted 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from behind the arc, while Franklin made just 3-of-17 (17.6 percent), including 0-of-7 in the final 20 minutes. The home team knocked down 12-of-16 (70.4 percent) at the line. The Grizzlies made 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) at the charity stripe. Franklin turned the ball over 14 times while forcing 18 miscues.

The Beavers travel Wooster on Tuesday, Dec. 6, for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Fighting Scots.

-BEAVERS-