ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team slipped to 7-6 overall and 1-5 in the Heartland Conference following a 76-66 setback at Anderson University on a cold Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. The Ravens improved to 6-6 on the season with a 3-3 mark in the HCAC.

A pair of Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) bunnies sandwiched around a Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) layin tied the game (8-8) at the 6:23 mark of the first quarter. The Ravens scored six of the next eight for a 16-10 lead, but senior Lindsey Smith (Mount Victory/Kenton) and sophomore Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) made it 16-14 heading to second period.

Brown tried to keep Bluffton within striking distance, scoring seven points on 5-of-5 shooting at the line in the second quarter, but the home team pushed its lead to 38-29 at the break.

Anderson kept its foot on the gas pedal in the third stanza, opening up a comfortable 54-35 spread at the 4:40 mark, and the Ravens continued to pour it on. Bluffton trailed 63-46 after three quarters despite a Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) triple and back-to-back Katie Sims (Perrysburg) makes from distance.

The visitors came to life in the final frame, outscoring the Ravens by a 20-13 count, but the Beavers never got closer than eight on the way to a 76-66 Anderson victory. Sophomore Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath) was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field with a triple and seven points in the fourth quarter. Columber also knocked down a shot from outside the arc.

Smith and Brown tallied 11 points apiece. Smith just missed out on a double-double with nine boards. Clark went for eight points, while Columber, Brinkman and Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) all bucketed seven counters. Fenstermaker ripped down eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Smith stuffed the Ravens with four blocks.

Bluffton was an outstanding 6-of-9 from three-point land, but the Beavers connected on just 14-of-48 inside the arc (29.2 percent). The visitors knocked down 20-of-27 (74.1 percent) at the line. Anderson pulled down six more rebounds (41-35), but turned it over one more time (14-13).

The Beavers will be back on the road Saturday, Jan. 11, when they travel to Franklin College for a 2 p.m. meeting with the Grizzlies.

-BEAVERS-