By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

The Bluffton University women's basketball team was defeated 83-62 by Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, December 29 in the opening round of the Hoops for Hope Tournament. Bluffton's record slipped to 4-6 overall, while Ohio Wesleyan improved to 5-6 for the 2010-11 season.

Ohio Wesleyan started off the scoring but Bluffton quickly responded with back-to-back layups from Kim Miller (Delphos/St. John's) and Brittany Steigmaier (Garfield/Trinity) to take the lead, 4-2. For the next nine minutes the score went back and forth as a layup by Miller and Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora) trifecta kept the Beavers within one point of the Bishops (20-19) at the 8:44 mark.

Ohio Wesleyan took over following the Daman three until the first period ended with a layup by Francena Tate (Fostoria/St. Wendelin). Bluffton went to the break down by 19 points after being outscored 23-5 during the final 7:46 of the first half.

Rachel Daman ignited the Beaver offense in the second half with a layup 37 seconds into the stanza. Three minutes later, Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) added two points with a layin, cutting Ohio Wesleyan's lead to 16.

Bluffton again trimmed their deficit to 16 points thanks to a pair of Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) makes at the line with 3:02 to play, but OWU squelched the run with four straight markers as the Battling Bishops finished with an 83-62 win over the visitors.

Daman led the Beavers with 12 points, while Stegmaier pulled down seven boards. Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) added nine points while Lewis and Stegmaier chipped in with eight points apiece.

Kim Miller, who finished the game with 999 career points, now stands tied for first all-time with 335 career assists, equaling the standard set by Jill Laughlin and Beth Crates. Miller is currently fifth all-time with 568 rebounds and her 999 counters place her sixth all-time at Bluffton.

Bluffton hit just 23-of-71 (32.4 percent) from the field, while the visitors made 28-of-61 (45.9 percent). The Beavers knocked down 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) at the line. The visitors won a close battle on the boards (45-43).

The Bluffton University women's basketball team will face Washington University of St. Louis in the consolation game of the Hoops for Hope Tournament at Ohio Wesleyan University on Thursday, December 30. The game against the defending Division III National Champions is scheduled for 1 p.m.