February 8, 2017
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team used a balanced scoring effort of four Beavers in double figures to derail host Defiance College, 81-68, on a snowy Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Bluffton improved to 18-4 overall and 12-3 in the Heartland Conference on a night when Defiance fell to 12-10 and 9-6 in the HCAC.
A Kelsey Tietje chip shot with 7:11 to play pulled Defiance within a point (57-56) before eight straight Bluffton counters gave the visitors some much-needed breathing room. Rachel Beining (Ottoville) ignited the spurt with a deuce and then consecutive threes from Abigail O'Donnell (Arcanum) and Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus) made it 65-56 at the 4:24 mark.
Sheerer added four tallies, including an old-fashioned three-point play, following a pair of O'Donnell freebies as Bluffton led 71-62 with less than two minutes remaining. The Beavers knocked down 14 free throws in the final three minutes, including six straight to close out the 81-68 victory which secured a season split with the rival Jackets.
Kaycee Rowe continued her recent tear, which included earning HCAC Player of the Week honors on Monday, with a team-high 23 points on 7-of-13 from the field and 8-for-9 at the stripe. She showed her versatility with five boards, four steals and three assists. Beining just missed out on a big double-double with 20 points (10-of-16) and nine rebounds. Sheerer and O'Donnell made it four in double digits with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Breanna Graham (Springboro) dished out three assists and Sheerer added four dimes.
Bluffton knocked down 28-of-58 (48.3 percent) from the field, compared to 27-of-58 (46.6) for the Jackets. The Beavers were efficient from distance, going 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent. The line proved to be the difference as the visitors drained 21-of-26 (80.8 percent), while the home team attempted just 12 (9-of-12 for 75 percent). Defiance ripped down 12 more rebounds (38-26) but the Jackets also turned it over nine more times (18-9).
Bluffton will look to secure the number 2 seed in the upcoming HCAC Tournament when the Beavers travel to Anderson University for a 2 p.m. tip with the Ravens on Saturday, Feb. 11.
-BEAVERS-
