By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information asssistant
Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2012/02-18-wb.htm
The Bluffton University women fell to Transylvania University on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. The Beavers outscored Transy in the second half (43-39) but it was not enough to make up for an 11-0 spurt by the visitors early in the first period. The Beavers fell to 8-17 overall and 6-12 in the HCAC, while Transylvania improved to 13-12 overall and 11-7 in the HCAC. The loss, coupled with Mount St. Joseph's win over Anderson, ended the Beavers' 2011-12 campaign.
At the start of their final contest in Founders Hall, three Bluffton seniors opened the game with a 9-2 run. Seniors Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora), Beth Yoder (Marshallville/Smithville) and Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity) each hit from downtown during the first three minutes. However, the Pioneers quickly caught up to the Beavers and went ahead by four at the 15:24 mark thanks to an 11-0 jag.
Another three-pointer by Daman at the 13:50 mark pulled the Beavers within one. Over the next three minutes the Pioneers used a 6-0 run to go up 21-14 midway through the period.
At the 5:40 mark Stegmaier again hit from distance, cutting the Pioneers' lead to just five. Transylvania took control of the game over the last five minutes of the frame, extending its lead to 13. Freshman Rachel DeBord (Lebanon) connected on a jumper with 36 seconds left in the half, making the score 37-26 at the break.
The Beavers opened the second half with a 15-4 scoring binge to tie the game at 41. Senior Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) put the Beavers up for the first time in the second stanza with 15-foot jumper at the 15:38 mark.
At the 12:09 mark, Stegmaier connected on her fourth three-ball of the night to put the Beavers up by two. Two minutes later freshman Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) got to the rack following a slick pass from Lewis. The Pioneers battled, but the Beavers kept their lead until the 7:16 mark when the Transy tied the game up at 56.
Transylvania opened up a six-point spread with 16 seconds left in the game. Two layups, one by Lewis and one from junior Francena Tate (Fostoria/St. Wendelin), cut the Pioneers' lead to two with three seconds left. The visitors took advantage of two fouls shots for the final 73-69 margin.
The Beavers were led by Lauren Hutton (New Riegel) with 15 points and nine rebounds. Stegamaier and Daman each contributed 12 points for the Beavers. Lewis went out with a career-high eight assists to go along with her seven rebounds.
The Beavers went 25-of 64 (39.1 percent) from the field, while Transylvania hit 20-of-48 (41.7 percent). From behind the arc, the Beavers were 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) compared to the Pioneers 3-of-10 (30.0 percent) shooting from distance. Transylvania won the game at the free throw line, going 30-for-37 (81.1 percent), while the Beavers were 10-of-14 (71.4 percent).
Bluffton bids adieu to an outstanding group of five senior women who will graduate in May: Alicia Amis, Rachel Daman, Brittany Lewis, Brittany Stegmaier and Beth Yoder.
