By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Anderson University Ravens held Bluffton to 20 points in the middle two quarters en route to a 64-57 victory over the Beavers on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. Bluffton fell to 11-10 overall and 5-9 in the Heartland Conference, while Anderson improved to 9-12 and 5-9 in the HCAC.
The Ravens quickly took a 3-0 lead but Tj Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) tied it up with a trifecta of her own. Two Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) layups and a triple from Abbie Parkins (Bluffton) had the Beavers up by five (10-5). An Anderson three gave them a short-lived lead before Mills hit another shot from distance to make the score 14-12. A Gillig bucket in the paint and a Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) make from deep gave Bluffton a 19-16 lead at the end of the first.
It was 10 straight points for Anderson and just over five minutes before a Gillig layin would give the Beavers their first points of the second quarter (26-21). A steal and bucket by Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, KY/Dixie Heights) made the score 26-23. A Gillig jumper and freebie along with a Mills deuce at the buzzer pulled Bluffton within four (32-28) at the break.
Gillig was the highlight reel to start off the third quarter, netting three field goals and two charity shots in five minutes for eight quick points. A Mills make from the stripe and layup made the score 44-39 in favor of Anderson with one quarter to play.
An 8-4 run for the Beavers pulled them within two (50-48) at the 6:18 mark. However, a six-point run for the Ravens pushed their lead out to 56-48. Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) bucketed a deuce followed by four charity shots from Mills to make the score 59-54. Gillig knocked down three more points but Bluffton dropped the 64-57 decision on the road.
Gillig was the star of the show, putting up a career-high 29 points while pulling down five boards. Mills tallied 18 markers and four rebounds in the loss. Saltzman and Parkins grabbed four rebounds apiece.
The Beavers struggled offensively as they connected on just 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) shots from the field and 4-of-23 (17.4 percent) from outside the arc. Anderson netted 22-of-52 (42.3 percent), including a paltry 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from deep. Bluffton converted 13-of-17 (76.5 percent) free throws with the Ravens hitting 18-of-21 (85.7 percent). Anderson pulled down 13 more rebounds (41-28) but coughed the ball up seven more times (17-10).
Bluffton is back at the Sommer Center for the first of three consecutive home games when Manchester University travels to Ohio on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. Tip-off with the Spartans is slated for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-