HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped an 83-57 decision at Hanover College on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Bluffton stands 10-10 overall and 4-9 in the Heartland Conference, while the Panthers improved to 15-5 and 9-4 in the HCAC.
A pair of Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) layups put the Beavers up 4-0 just over a minute into the game. Hanover scored eight straight before another Brown chip shot and a deuce from sophomore Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath). After a Lindsey Smith (Mt. Victory/Kenton) layup tied the score 10-10 midway through period one, eight straight Panther points made it 18-10 two minutes later. Smith and Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) both found the basket late in the quarter, but Hanover pushed its lead to 27-14 after period one.
Clark cut the deficit to 10 with a hoop and harm and Brown followed with a pair of deuces as Bluffton stayed within striking range. Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) sandwiched two buckets around a Townsend layup, however, the home team opened a 44-27 advantage at the break.
Ten counters from Clark helped the Beavers keep it a 13-point game (60-47) going to the fourth quarter, but Hanover pulled away with a 23-10 spread in the final stanza. Katie Sims (Perrysburg) scored five points in the fourth.
Brown and Clark led the way with 17 and 15 markers, respectively. Sims hit a pair of triples on the way to eight points and Townsend chipped in with six points and seven rebounds. Brown led the visitors with nine caroms, while Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) added six rebounds and three assists.
Bluffton hit 23-of-65 from the field for 35.4 percent, including 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) outside the arc. The Panthers were a blistering 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from distance. The home team pulled down three more rebounds (43-40) and it forced Bluffton into nine more turnovers (17-8).
The Beavers are back on the road for a 7 p.m. tip at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.
-BEAVERS-