By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
Buffalo, NY - The Bluffton University women outscored host Buffalo State 24-11 in the third quarter en route to a 68-53 victory over the Bengals in Abgott Invitational championship game on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The Beavers improved to 2-0 with their second victory in as many days thanks to 18 points and 13 rebounds by Tournament MVP Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus).
The opening stanza was controlled by Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East), as her nine points, five boards, and two stuffs got Bluffton out to a 14-12 lead after 10 minutes. The home team would battle back, taking a 19-18 lead at the 6:25 mark of the second quarter. The teams exchanged buckets until Rowe’s triple pushed the Beaver advantage to four points with 2:50 left in the half. Buffalo State knocked down a triple of their own before a layup from Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) and another Rowe deuce made it 29-26 Beavers heading to the lockerroom.
The visitors owned the third quarter for the second straight night, quickly getting the lead up to 38-28 on a bucket from Macey Sheerer. The Bengals
cut it to seven before a 10-0 Bluffton run sparked by five more counters from Sheerer made the score 50-33 late in the quarter. The home team trimmed it to nine with 3:19 to go in the contest, but a three from senior Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) and back-to-back baskets by Sheerer made it a 16-point spread and ended the threat.
Sheerer headlined the All-Tournament Team with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. She ripped down a game-high 13 boards to go along with an assist and a steal. Kaycee Rowe also put up her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by senior Taylor Knight who scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting with six assists and three thefts. Rachel Beining (Ottoville) went for nine points and seven rebounds while Taylor Whitaker countered with eight after dropping in a team-high 18 points against John Carroll.
Bluffton hit 24-of-57 from the field (42.1 percent) while limiting the Bengals to a miniscule 26.1 percent (18-for-69). Both teams struggled from distance, but Bluffton was slightly better with 4-of-14 (28.6 percent), compared to 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) for Buffalo. Bluffton converted 16-of-26 from the stripe for 61.5 percent. The home stayed within striking distance during the first two periods thanks to its work on the boards. Buffalo State finished with a 49-44 edge on the glass, including a 22-12 advantage on the offensive end. The Bengals turned it over one more time (19-18) than Bluffton did.
The Beavers return to Ohio for their home opener against Heidelberg College on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in the Sommer Center. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
