January 31, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball squad hit the road to compete against the Mount St. Joseph Lions on Wednesday, Jan. 31. After a slow start for both teams, Bluffton would come out in the third quarter with a vengeance on both sides of the basketball as the Beavers dominated, 31-12, in the final two quarters to improve to 15-5 (10-3 HCAC) after picking up a 51-26 win over the Lions.

Bluffton went up 4-0 after a jumper by BREANNA GRAHAM (Springboro) and a layup by KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East). It was a rough quarter for both teams but the Beavers took a slim 10-8 lead after a MACEY SHEERER (Bucyrus) layup. An 8-2 spurt to finish the half for the Bluffton gave the visitors a 20-14 lead at the break

The Beavers came out of the gate charged up, outscoring Mount St. Joseph 14-4 over the first seven minutes of the third quarter with Graham knocking down two triples during the run. Bluffton would close the contest on a 10-2 run as the visitors marched to a 51-26 victory in a game that bore no resemblance to the exciting 85-78 overtime victory for the Beavers in the Sommer Center back on January 3.

Kaycee Rowe led the way for the victorious Beavers as the senior would collect her 15th career double-double (4th straight) with 11 points and 14 boards. ABIGAIL O'DONNELL(Arcanum) scored 10 with six rebounds while Breanna Graham added eight markers. Sheerer ripped down 11 rebounds, making her just the second women's basketball player in Bluffton history to surpass 700 career caroms (705) following Rachel Beining and her 789 career boards.

Bluffton knocked down just 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) for the game while the Lions only managed to connect on 10-of-44 (22.7 percent) of their shots from the floor. The Beavers were all over the glass as they won the battle of the boards (45-30). Bluffton coughed the ball up 14 times, but the Beavers also forced 17 Lion turnovers for the contest. The 26 points scored by MSJ are the fewest allowed by the Beavers since they took down Toledo 34-24 in 1970-71!

Bluffton will be back home on Saturday, Feb. 3 with a tipoff set for approximately 3:15 p.m. against Rose-Hulman following the J. Denny and Jenny Beaver reveal! Come out and support your Beavers as the take on the HCAC leaders!

-BEAVERS-