January 10, 2018
By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University fans purpled-out Copeland Court on Wednesday, Jan. 10, as the Beavers faced off against their long-time HCAC rival, the Defiance College Yellow Jackets. Bluffton improved to 11-3 overall (6-1 HCAC) while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 4-10 overall (2-5 HCAC).
After nearly two minutes of scoreless action, the Yellow Jackets finally broke the ice with a jumper by Whitney Schalk. The Beavers answered with a layup of their own by senior Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East). The teams stayed neck and neck for most of the first period before Bluffton was able to pull ahead by five, ending the quarter with a 20-15 lead.
A jumper by Breanna Graham (Springboro) ignited a 6-0 run that put the home team up by nine early in the second quarter. The Beavers never let go of their lead as they went into the half up by a 41-29 count.
Bluffton kept its cushion in double digits and added to it with a 5-0 run highlighted by three points from freshman Nora Hemminger (McComb) who put the Beavers up 59-44 with just over a minute to play in the third quarter.
The home team pushed their spread to 20 after a pair of freebies by Breanna Graham with just under four minutes to play. A jumper by Kayla Heuker (Botkins) topped off Bluffton's 77-62 victory!
Bluffton was led by T.J. Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) who was a red-hot 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from the field for a career-high tying 19 points. Following closely behind was Kaycee Rowe with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for her 11th career double-double. Rowe also became one of only 11 Bluffton women's basketball players to hit the 1,000 career points mark!
The Beavers knocked down 28-of-61 from the field (45.9 percent) compared to 23-of-56 (41.1 percent) for the Jackets. Bluffton also pulled down five more rebounds (41-36). Defiance turned the ball over five more times (19-14). The home team cashed in for 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) at the stripe.
Bluffton hits the road on Saturday, Jan. 13, when the Beavers travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to face the HCAC-leading Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers who sport a perfect 7-0 mark in the Heartland Conference. Tip off is slated for 3:30 p.m. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
