By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team traveled to Manchester University on Jan. 22, 2020, for a matchup with the Spartans. The Beavers dropped a 69-65 decision as they fell to 9-7 (3-5 HCAC).

The visitors got on the board first when Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) hit a layup. The lead was short lived as a 17-5 run for the Spartans gave them a 17-7 lead at the end of the first period. Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, KY/Dixie Heights) sparked the Bluffton offense when she got to the rack and then followed that with a trifecta to make the score 21-12. Tj Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) hit back-to-back layups midway through the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just three (24-21). The Spartan offense sparked again before Brock hit another jump shot to send the Beavers into the break with a score of 37-27 in favor of Manchester.

Junior Nora Hemminger (McComb ) dropped a deuce to cut Manchester's lead to eight. Another 6-0 run for the Spartans put them up 49-34 with 4:02 to play in the third. The Beaver offense struggled as they headed into the final stanza down 56-38. Three Gillig freebies early in the fourth made the score 60-41. She continued to power the Beavers in the fourth quarter but it wouldn't be enough as they dropped the 69-65 decision.

Gillig led the Beavers with 26 points and 12 rebounds for her 5th career double-double. Brock and Hemminger tallied 10 and nine markers, respectively. Abbie Parkins (Bluffton) pulled down 11 rebounds in the loss. Mills came up with five steals at Manchester, giving the senior 199 for her career which surpassed Lisa Wieging (196) for the top spot on Bluffton's career list!

Bluffton connected on just 25-of-70 (35.7 percent) from the field and an anemic 3-of-21 (14.3 percent) from distance. Manchester was able to hit 26-of-55 (47.3 percent) and 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) from deep. The Beavers drained only 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) free throws, compared to Manchester's 12-of-18 (66.7 percent). Bluffton pulled down nine more boards (45-36) and coughed the ball up five fewer times (22-17)

The women are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 25, when they travel to Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Ind. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. following the 1 p.m. men's contest. Go Beavers!

-BEAVERS-