November 21, 2017
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Hitting the home court for the first time of the 2017-18 season, the Bluffton University women’s basketball crew faced off against Heidelberg University, their second Ohio Athletic Conference opponent in three games. A 22-15 first quarter start set the tone as the Beavers never looked back en route to a 79-57 victory over the Student Princes. Bluffton improved to 2-1 on the season, while Heidelberg slipped to 1-2.
After the visitors tied the game at 4-4, a pair of free throws by KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East) and a MACEY SHEERER (Bucyrus) layup put Bluffton ahead 8-4 with 5:27 left in the first quarter. Heidelberg would pull within one after a 5-0 run. The spurt did not faze the Beavers as they would take a 22-15 lead after TJ MILLS (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) hit a layup, beating the buzzer at the end of the first quarter. Bluffton would come out into the second quarter on fire, using a 14-2 run to open a 36-17 margin with 3:30 left in the half. Heidelberg trimmed its deficit down to 15 as the halftime score was 41-26.
Heidelberg opened up the third quarter with a three by ALYSSA RILEY but Bluffton answered right back with a Macey Sheerer triple. After going back-and-forth throughout the quarter, the Student Princes drilled back-to-back shots from downtown to cut the Beaver lead down to 57-46 entering the final quarter.
The visitors pulled within 10 before a Kaycee Rowe layup and consecutive jumpers by BREANNA GRAHAM (Springboro) put Bluffton up 69-51 at the midpoint of the quarter. The Beavers would close out the final stanza with freshman KYLIE BROCK (Villa Hills, KY) going 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to make the final score a Beaver 79-57 victory.
Leading the way for the Bluffton offense was Macey Sheerer who dropped 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor and grabbed 10 rebounds for her 13th career double-double. Kaycee Rowe added 21 counters along with a career-high tying 12 boards for her sixth double-double. TJ Mills chipped in 10 markers and dished out a game-high six assists.
The Beaver offense connected on 29-of-68 (42.6 percent) from the field and 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) from the free throw line. The home team finished with a slim 43-42 edge on the glass while forcing 23 Heidelberg turnovers.
Next up on the schedule for the Beavers is a home contest against Kalamazoo College on Saturday, Nov. 25, with tip-off set for 2 PM. Come out and make the Sommer Center part of your Thanksgiving weekend festivities!
-BEAVERS-
