By: Blade Tackett, sports information assistant
January 25, 2014

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team welcomed Anderson University to the Sommer Center on Saturday, Jan. 25.  After jumping ahead by 10 just five minutes into the contest, the Beavers never looked back. Bluffton rolled to a 75-55 victory on Hall of Fame Day, capping off a 2-0 week that saw the Beavers improve to 10-7 overall and 6-4 in the Heartland Conference, while Anderson slipped to 1-16 and 0-10 in the HCAC.

Behind the dominant inside play of sophomore Brooke Ruffer (Stryker), the home team cruised into halftime up 15. Anderson pulled within nine (26-17) at the 7:18 mark of the first half, but Bluffton closed out the first 20 minutes on a 15-9 jag for a 41-26 lead at the break.

The second half was more of the same. The visitors cut the lead to 11 early in final stanza, but that was as close as they could get. Coach Shutler was able to rest his starters as the home team went up by 20 midway through the second half.

The Beavers shot a stellar 7-of-12 from distance (58.3 percent) and 25-for-46 (54.3 percent) from the field, while Anderson struggled to put the ball in the basket, shooting 18-of-52 (34.6 percent) from the floor and just 3-of-15 (20 percent) from behind the arc.

Bluffton was led by Brooke Ruffer who scored a career-high 24 on 9-of-13 shooting. Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross) followed closely with 15 points and a sparkling 4-of-7 display from distance. Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) chipped in with 10 points and six assists. Rachel Beining (Ottoville) finished with six, while Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) and Belicia Cooper (Painesville/Riverside) added five each. Jenna Wittenburg led the Ravens in scoring with 17, followed by Cori Conner with 10.

The Beavers host rival Defiance on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Sommer Center at 6 p.m. Come support them as they fight to win their third straight HCAC contest!

-BEAVERS-