The Bluffton University women's basketball team traveled to Manchester University on Jan. 22, 2020, for a matchup with the Spartans. The Beavers dropped a 69-65 decision as they fell to 9-7 (3-5 HCAC).
The visitors got on the board first when Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) hit a layup. The lead was short lived as a 17-5 run for the Spartans gave them a 17-7 lead at the end of the first period. Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, KY/Dixie Heights) sparked the Bluffton offense when she got to the rack and then followed that with a trifecta to make the score 21-12. Tj Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) hit back-to-back layups midway through the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just three (24-21). The Spartan offense sparked again before Brock hit another jump shot to send the Beavers into the break with a score of 37-27 in favor of Manchester.
Junior Nora Hemminger (McComb ) dropped a deuce to cut Manchester's lead to eight. Another 6-0 run for the Spartans put them up 49-34 with 4:02 to play in the third. The Beaver offense struggled as they headed into the final stanza down 56-38. Three Gillig freebies early in the fourth made the score 60-41. She continued to power the Beavers in the fourth quarter but it wouldn't be enough as they dropped the 69-65 decision.
Gillig led the Beavers with 26 points and 12 rebounds for her 5th career double-double. Brock and Hemminger tallied 10 and nine markers, respectively. Abbie Parkins (Bluffton) pulled down 11 rebounds in the loss.
Bluffton connected on just 25-of-70 (35.7 percent) from the field and an anemic 3-of-21 (14.3 percent) from distance. Manchester was able to hit 26-of-55 (47.3 percent) and 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) from deep. The Beavers drained only 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) free throws, compared to Manchester's 12-of-18 (66.7 percent). Bluffton pulled down nine more boards (45-36) and coughed the ball up five fewer times (22-17)
The women are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 25, when they travel to Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Ind. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. following the 1 p.m. men's contest. Go Beavers!
