January 18, 2017
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women’s basketball team took on rival Defiance College in a thrilling HCAC matchup. The game couldn’t be decided in regulation as it took two overtimes to determine a winner. Despite having the home court advantage, the Beavers struggled to hit free throws down the stretch as they took the loss, 79-75, falling to 13-3 (7-2 HCAC) on the year. The Yellow Jackets were able to pull off the upset, improving to 8-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Bluffton took a 12-10 lead after CHELSEA MOORE (Delaware/Olentangy) got to the rack off an inbound pass from KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East). However, Defiance went on a 10-0 run to close off the first quarter. The Beavers cut the gap to one after a Rowe tip-in made the score 24-23. The teams would go back and forth, but the Yellow Jackets continued to hold the upper hand (35-30) going into halftime.
With only 32 seconds left in regulation the Beavers held a slim 63-61 lead before ERICA SMAY hit a layup to tie it up and send it to an extra session. Bluffton went up 65-63 after RACHEL BEINING (Ottoville) drained a baseline jumper. The Beavers held a 67-64 lead before Smay hit a desperation three just before the buzzer. Defiance took control early in the second overtime and they outscored Bluffton 12-8 for the stunning victory.
Leading the way for the home team was Macey Sheerer who equaled her career-high 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting with five assists and seven rebounds. Also coming up big was Kaycee Rowe who notched 18 points. ABIGAIL O’DONNELL (Arcanum) added 11 markers with a career-best 12 boards for her first career double-double. Rachel Beining hauled in 16 rebounds and 10 points for her 20th career double-double. Beining also took over as Bluffton’s all-time career rebound leader and she now tops the list with 703 boards. She passed Kim Miller who finished her remarkable career with 697 rebounds.
The Beavers struggled from the charity stripe, hitting just 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) for the night. The three-point shot was also a huge factor for the Yellow Jackets as they buried 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) to Bluffton’s 3-of-10 (30.0 percent). The home team pounded Defiance on the glass, winning the rebounding battle, 56-46. Bluffton also turned it over seven fewer times (15-8).
The Beavers will look to bounce back from the loss when they travel to Franklin for a crucial meeting with the Grizzlies at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21.
-BEAVERS-
