GAMBIER, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team rolled to a 65-40 win at Kenyon on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Bluffton evened up its season record at 1-1, while Kenyon slipped to 0-2 following the loss.

Kenyon jumped out to a 13-7 lead with just under three minutes left in the opening stanza before the Bluffton offense responded with a vengeance. The visitors scored the final three points of the first period, but the real fun was right around the corner. Junior Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) dialed long distance, igniting a 21-0 jag to open the second quarter.

Bluffton dominated the period to the tune of a 21-4 blitzkrieg. Columber nailed a pair of triples and Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) pounded away inside with four deuces for eight points in the quarter.

The good times continued to roll in the third as the Beavers blew it open with a 21-8 spread that saw Bluffton lead 52-25 heading to the final frame. Four points apiece from freshman Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) and senior Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) made it 39-20 with 4:12 on the clock. An old-fashioned three-point play by Townsend and back-to-back trifectas from Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) helped the Beavers to a 42-12 advantage during the middle two quarters.

Junior Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) iced it with consecutive layups to kick off the fourth and when Katie Sims (Perrysburg) connected from downtown the big lady was limbering up her vocal cords. Senior Lindsey Smith (Mt. Victory/Kenton) added a pair of counters and Townsend closed it out for the final 65-40 margin.

Brown hit 5-of-11 from the field and all five of her free throws for a team-high 15 points. Stevely was 3-of-5 from outside the arc for a career-high nine points. Brinkman scored all eight of her points in the second quarter.

Smith ripped down 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end, and she also dished out a career-high five dimes. She and Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) both swatted away two Kenyon shots.

Bluffton hit 25-of-62 (40.3 percent) from the field, including 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from distance. The Beavers dominated the glass with a 49-32 advantage. The visitors finished with 17 assists, compared to just four for the Ladies.

The Bluffton women welcome Kalamazoo College for the home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.

-BEAVERS-