March 5, 2014

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University sophomore BROOKE RUFFER (Stryker) was recently named First Team All-Heartland Conference for the 2013-14 women's basketball season. The HCAC women's basketball coaches selected six players for the first team and six players for the second team. RACHEL BEINING (Ottoville) was one of five ladies selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Brooke Ruffer, who was named Second Team All-HCAC as a freshman, collected her second First Team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference award in four months when the votes were tallied following the women's basketball season. The first team volleyball player showed those around the league that she is the most versatile athlete in the Heartland Conference. Ruffer led the Beavers and finished fourth in the conference with 15.8 PPG. She was extremely efficient from the field (142-of-265) for 53.6 percent which was second best in the HCAC.

Ruffer was third in the conference with 8.5 RPG, pulling down 205 boards this season. She led the Beavers with 55 steals and was second, behind Beining, with 14 blocks. The unselfish sophomore handed out 27 dimes while finishing second in the HCAC with an 86.3 free throw percentage (88-of-102). Ruffer is up to 671 career points after her first two seasons at Bluffton. She has racked up 16 career double-doubles and eight games of at least 20 points.

Rachel Beining ripped down 8.1 RPG which was fifth in the Heartland Conference. She also finished fifth in the HCAC with a 51.9 field goal percentage (97-of-187). Beining averaged 9.8 PPG and led the conference with 88 offensive boards. Her team-high 44 blocks (1.6 BPG) were third in the HCAC. Beining had 26 assists and 17 steals while racking up four double-doubles in her first season of collegiate hoops.

In conjunction with the All-Heartland Conference awards, the conference has announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team for the 2013-14. This award has been developed as part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-HCAC Sportsmanship team are selected by the coaches and their teammates as individuals who demonstrate the ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field/court of competition. Bluffton sophomore ABBY JERGER (Middletown/Madison) was recognized for her sportsmanship this season.

-BEAVERS-