January 24, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball squad welcomed the Earlham College Quakers for a fierce conference battle on a cold and snowy Wednesday, Jan. 24. Turnovers were the major factor as Bluffton's tenacious defense helped pave the way for a 58-39 victory. The win pushed the Beavers to 13-5 (8-3 HCAC) on the season, while Earlham dipped to 3-15, 3-8 HCAC.

After Bluffton outscored the Quakers 20-14 in the first quarter, both teams went cold in the second as neither team cracked double digits. A three at the end of period two allowed Earlham to double its output and pull within 29-20 at the break.

Bluffton would come out of the gates with fury, using an 8-0 run powered by TJ MILLS(Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) and KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East). The visitors went on a short spurt before the Beavers would extend their lead to 15 after MACEY SHEERER (Bucyrus) drilled a triple as time expired in the third.

The home team kicked off the fourth quarter by going up 51-30 thanks to an old-fashioned three-point play by Kaycee Rowe and a layup from TJ Mills. Freshman HEIDI CRADDOCK(Lima/Bath) and sophomore KAYLA HEUKER (Botkins) combined for three late makes at the stripe as Bluffton completed the season sweep with a 58-39 victory.

Leading the way for the Beavers was senior Kaycee Rowe as she picked up her 13th career double-double, notching 16 points and 11 boards on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. TJ Mills added 13, on 6-of-8 shooting, and dished out three assists to go along with five steals while Macey Sheerer scored 11 and hauled in four rebounds.

The Beavers hit 21-of-50 (42 percent) from the field en route to their win while Earlham managed just 14-of-46 (30.4 percent). Bluffton coughed the ball up 20 times, but the defense was up to the task, forcing 29 Quaker turnovers. The Beavers pulled down three more boards (32-29) and hit 15-of-19 at the line (78.9 percent).

Bluffton is back home on Saturday, Jan. 27, when the women host Hanover College to celebrate Alumni Day with a tipoff set for 1 p.m. The Alumni Game is slated for 10 a.m. in the Sommer Center. Come out and cheer on your Beavers and take in the alumni festivities!

-BEAVERS-