CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team returned to its winning ways with a 65-56 at Mount St. Joseph on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. Bluffton improved to 13-6 overall and 8-4 in the Heartland Conference, while the Lions dipped to 6-11 and 3-7 in the HCAC.
A pair of Peyton Henry (Leipsic) triples helped put Bluffton up 8-0 before the first media timeout was in the books and that lead was crucial in a game that the Beavers won by nine points. Morgan Smith (Arlington) and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) added deuces late in the opening stanza as Bluffton led 12-6 after the first quarter.
Back-to-back treys by Henry and freshman marksman Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) gave the visitors a commanding 27-13 spread with 3:17 to go in the second period. Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) and Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell-Louden) kept the pressure on with buckets in the final two minutes, giving Bluffton a 31-20 lead at the half.
Henry's fourth trifecta of the game and another deep ball by Prigge gave the Beavers a 37-26 lead early in quarter three. Prigge drained her second triple in two minutes and Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) knocked down a jumper at the 5:24 mark, but MSJ closed the gap to six points (42-36) as Chloe Jansen was slicing her way to a game-high 28 points. Ella Zaborowski (Toledo/Christian) hit consecutive deuces late in the third stanza, both from Saltzman, as Bluffton led 46-38 with 10 minutes to play.
Smith was the story in the fourth quarter, willing Bluffton to victory with 13 points on 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 at the line to go along with five boards in the final period. The Lions were unable to get any closer than eight points over the final 7:14 of the game. Bluffton led from start to finish in a contest that was never tied and saw no lead changes.
Smith led four Beavers in double figures with 17 points and she added eight rebounds. Prigge hit three triples en route to 13 points and four caroms. Henry knocked down a career-best four treys on the way to a career-high 12 markers. Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) added 10 counters and five rebounds. Fitzpatrick ripped down a career-high 10 rebounds and Henry added seven boards.
Bluffton finished with a marked 46-34 edge on the glass and both teams turned it over 15 times. The Beavers hit just 23-of-61 (37.7 percent) from the field, including 7-for-20 (35 percent) outside the arc. The visitors were splendid at the line, converting 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) foul shots.
The Beavers are back on the road Saturday when they make the long trip to Terre Haute, Ind., for a 1 p.m. matchup with Rose-Hulman.
-BEAVERS-