February 4, 2017
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team welcomed Transylvania University to the Sommer Center for a crucial HCAC matchup on Saturday, Feb. 4. A quick start and a solid finish were the keys as the Beavers put their stamp on 2nd place in the Heartland Conference with a convincing 77-62 victory. Bluffton improved to 17-4 on the season and 11-3 in the HCAC. It marked Bluffton's sixth win in 34 meetings with Transy and it is the first time that the Beavers have swept the regular season series!

The home team built a commanding 21-10 spread with 1:39 left in the first quarter after junior MACEY SHEERER (Bucyrus) drained a three pointer. Transy was on its heels from the start as KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East) punished the Pioneers with an assist and eight of Bluffton's first 12 points in front of her sizable Mustang contingent!

Transylvania trimmed its deficit to five points but an 8-0 run by the Beavers put the home team up 36-23 with 3:19 to go in the half. The Pioneers used an 11-4 push to pull within 40-34 at the break.

At the end of the third quarter, CHELSEA MOORE (Delaware/Olentangy) hit a layup before the buzzer sounded off a pass from BREANNA GRAHAM (Springsboro) for a comfortable 56-43 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. ABIGAIL O'DONNELL (Arcanum) drilled a three from straight away at the 3:14 mark to give the Beavers a 76-57 advantage. The visitors scored five straight, but the Rowe hit a free throw with 29 ticks left for the final 77-62 margin.

Kaycee Rowe poured in a career-high 28 points along with seven rebounds and five assists. RACHEL BEINING (Ottoville) got it done with 15 points, five boards, four dimes and three blocks while Abigail O'Donnell marked 10 thanks to a pair of triples. Macey Sheerer stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, seven assists and seven boards.

The Beavers were hot from the floor as they went 31-of-60 (51.7 percent) and 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from downtown. Great ball movement by the Beavers paid huge dividends as the visitors assisted on 24 of their 31 field goals. Despite narrowly losing the rebounding battle (32-31) the home team was able to force 18 Pioneer turnovers. Transylvania finished 23-of-56 (41.1 percent) from the field, including just 5-of-22 (22.7 percent) from behind the arc.

Bluffton will travel to rival Defiance on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. for the first game of a women's and men's doubleheader at the Weaner Center.

-BEAVERS-