February 1, 2017
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team hosted Manchester University on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and took control from the tip as they defeated the Spartans by a convincing 55-34 margin. The win pushed the Beavers to 16-4 overall and 10-3 in the HCAC while Manchester dipped to 7-13 on the season and 6-7 in the Heartland Conference.
Bluffton would jump out to a 12-2 lead after KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East) knocked down a layup off a dish from MACEY SHEERER (Bucyrus/Bucyrus) midway through the first quarter. The Beavers opened up the second quarter leading 14-5 and added to it quickly when Rowe picked the Spartans clean and took it to the rack. Bluffton would close out the half with an 18-5 run for a dominating 34-12 spread at the break.
A three by BREANNA GRAHAM (Springsboro) put the Beavers up 47-14 with 4:40 left in the third quarter and the home team continued to stifle Manchester, taking a 51-21 lead heading to the final stanza. An old-fashioned three-point play by TJ MILLS (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter made the score 54-25. The Spartans would go on a 9-1 spurt to close out the game as everyone saw extensive minutes for the victorious Beavers.
Kaycee Rowe dropped a game-high 18 points on 9-of-15 from the field to go along with her five boards. RACHEL BEINING (Ottoville) notched her 21st career double-double on a night in which she was honored for 1,000 career points and for taking over as the all-time leading rebounder at Bluffton! She poured in 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. TJ Mills added nine counters and Macey Sheerer pulled down nine boards while dishing out a career-best eight assists. Freshman CHELSEA MOORE(Delaware/Olentangy) ripped down a career-high tying 10 caroms.
Bluffton went 21-of-69 (30.4 percent) from the floor and 2-of-6 (33.3 percent) on deep balls. The Beavers were all over the glass as they won the rebounding battle (62-39), including 23 offensive boards. A smothering defense by Bluffton forced Manchester to shoot 10-of-51 (19.6 percent) from the field and 2-of-15 (13.3 percent) from behind the arc. The 13 points netted by Manchester in the fourth marked the first time in eight periods against Bluffton this season that the Spartans tallied double digits in a quarter!
The Beavers will kick right back into action on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. following the men's game which tips at 1 p.m. A Transylvania University team that is just one game behind Bluffton in the HCAC standings will be the opposition this weekend.
-BEAVERS-