By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern

The Bluffton University women's basketball team knocked off Heartland Conference rival Anderson University, 56-52, on Monday, February 7. It marked the Beavers' second win over Anderson in the last 20 contests with the Ravens. Bluffton improved to 9-12 overall and 6-8 in the HCAC. Anderson dropped to 4-10 in the conference and 6-15 on the season.

A triple from Lauren Hutton (New Riegel), her first of the season, and a Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora) layin gave Bluffton a 9-5 advantage with 15:48 on the clock. However, a layin by Courtney Prater pushed the Ravens to a three-point lead (14-11).

At the 9:13 mark Hutton made a bucket thanks to an assist from Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity). Following a basket by Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) and a Daman trifecta, the Beavers were down by one, 20-19, with 4:25 left to play in the opening half. Bluffton ended the period with a Hutton layin for a 25-23 lead at the break.

Kim Meyer (Millbury/Lake) ignited the offensive fuse with a three-pointer just 20 seconds in the second half. The Beavers went on a 5-0 run until an Amy Wuestefeld bucket ended the Anderson drought.

A Kim Miller (Delphos/St. John's) layin and two freebies made by Hutton sent Bluffton to its largest lead of the night (42-31). A Prater rebound led to a Wuestefeld trey following an Ellen Thompson jumper, knotting the game at 47.

With 2:11 to play a Stegmaier layin followed by two free throws from Daman gave Bluffton a slim three-point cushion (52-49). Stegmaier dialed long distance with 44 seconds left, giving the Beavers an important 56-52 HCAC win.

Hutton led the Beavers with 18 points, which equaled her career-high, and she also had five rebounds. Miller added 15 counters, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and collecting 11 rebounds. Her 11 boards gives her 655 career rebounds, breaking Lindsay Bush's all-time mark of 647 caroms. Miller also moved up the all-time scoring list with 1,123 career points, surpassing #2 all-time Janice Bruner's 1,121 career markers. Daman chipped in with eight points and four caroms.

The Ravens were led by Prater who grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds and had 12 points. Lauren Leisure also had 12 markers.

Bluffton hit 18-of-50 (36.0 percent) from the field, while the Ravens made 21-of-60 (35.0 percent). Anderson grabbed 45 rebounds (19 offensive) compared to 34 for the Beavers. The visiting team went 16-of-24 (66.7 percent) at the line, while the home team made 7-of-13 (53.8 percent).

The Bluffton University women's basketball team will resume Heartland Conference action when it hosts Manchester College on Wednesday, February 9. The battle between the Beavers and the Spartans is slated for 7:30 p.m.