November 27, 2012
OBERLIN, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team used a dominating performance from junior post LAUREN HUTTON (New Reigel) to spank Oberlin College 74-53 on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in the Beavers' first game away from the Sommer Center. The beat rolled on for Bluffton as the visitors moved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1991-92 campaign. Oberlin lost for just the second time in six games.
The home team scored first a minute into the contest and led 6-3 before Bluffton ran off nine straight points and never trailed again. Hutton, who blistered the nets with 9-of-10 shooting from the field, keyed the run with a triple that put the Beavers up 8-6 at the 16:40 mark. She got to the rack for consecutive buckets midway through the first period, making the score 18-13.
With starting point guard TAYLOR KNIGHT (Perrysburg) stuck on the sideline thanks to a pair of early fouls, fellow freshman CAROLIN BAKER (Bethel-Tate) did not miss a beat as her layin at the 6:24 mark made the score 22-15. The Yeowomen were still within four (27-23) late in the first stanza before three straight Bluffton hoops in the paint gave the Beavers a comfortable 33-23 advantage at the break.
Sophomore MIKAYLA COBURN (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) and BROOKE RUFFER(Stryker) converted early in period two, while Hutton dropped in six quick counters as Bluffton opened a 45-30 lead with 14:51 to play. Oberlin trimmed the deficit to just five points (54-49) at the 7:04 mark, but triples by Knight and freshman TAYLOR WHITAKER (Mansfield/Lexington) and consecutive chip shots from Hutton helped Bluffton quash any thoughts of a Yeowomen victory.
Whitaker capped the 18-2 jag with a free throw as Bluffton opened a 72-51 lead with a little over a minute to play. A pair of Knight makes at the stripe made the final score 74-53.
Hutton missed just one of her 10 shots from the field and she added two freebies for 21 total points. She also ripped down a game-high seven boards. Ruffer came up big, going 6-for-9 from the field for 16 points with five reounds. Also in double figures was Knight who tallied 11 markers, including a pair of threes. Whitaker had a solid all-around performance with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. RACHEL DEBORD (Lebanon) handed out a career-high six dimes in the victory.
Bluffton controlled the paint with a 30-18 advantage from in close and the Beavers also showed their depth as the Bluffton bench outscored Oberlin 24-8. The visitors hit 29-of-54 (53.7 percent) from the field, compared to 18-of-48 (37.5 percent) for the Yeowomen. The Beavers won the war on the glass (34-23) and they handed out six more assists (17-11) in the victory.
The Beavers will look to continue their torrid start when they travel to Franklin College for the Heartland Conference opener on Saturday, Dec. 1. The contest is the first of a women's and men's doubleheader in the Spurlock Center. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.
-BEAVERS-