January 2, 2018
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped its first Heartland Conference game of the season to Transylvania on a brutally cold Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. The temperature inside wasn't much better as Transy held on for a 64-59 victory in the makeup from Saturday, Dec. 2. Bluffton fell to 8-3 and 3-1 in the HCAC following a second straight setback, while the Pioneers improved to 7-4 and 2-2 in the conference.
Despite trailing by as many as 14 late in the third quarter, Bluffton scratched and clawed its way back to within a point (58-57) with just 24 seconds remaining. Back-to-back chip shots by Abigail O'Donnell (Arcanum) and a TJ Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) layin following Breanna Graham's (Springboro) steal in the backcourt ignited the 6-0 spurt that spanned less than 40 seconds. However, the visitors sealed it at the charity stripe, going 6-of-6 to cap off the 64-59 victory.
At the same time she was being named HCAC Player of the Week, senior Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus) was putting up a game-high 19 points on 7-of-14 from the field and 3-for-5 from distance. O'Donnell also knocked down a pair of third quarter threes on the way to 16 points and four rebounds. Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East) finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals. Graham and freshman Nora Himmenger (McComb) both handed out four assists for the Beavers.
Bluffton again struggled from the field, hitting just 21-of-59 (35.6 percent) from the field, including 8-of-25 (32 percent) from beyond the arc. Transylvania dominated on the glass (38-23), but turned it over 13 more times (21-8). The Pioneers were almost perfect at the line, going 18-for-20 (90 percent).
The Beavers are right back at it on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they play host to Mount St. Joseph. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in the Sommer Center as the women are in the middle of a six-game homestand!
-BEAVERS-
