By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2012/12-03-wb.htm

The Bluffton University women's basketball team outscored Franklin College 32-25 in the second stanza, but the visitors held on for a 60-48 win over the Beavers on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Bluffton slipped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin stayed perfect at 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the HCAC.

Following two minutes of scoreless action to open the game, the Grizzlies capitalized on a foul by Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop). Just 10 seconds later, senior Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Michanicsburg) put the Beavers up 3-2 with a bucket from behind the arc.

Franklin pulled ahead by five before a three-pointer from senior Beth Yoder (Marshalville/Smithville) cut the Grizzlies' lead to two. Franklin went on a 24-8 run over the final 11:25 of the half to open up a commanding 35-16 lead at the break.

Senior Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora) started off the scoring for the Beavers in the second period. Less than two minutes in, she hit from distance thanks to a dish from Amis. Daman also capitalized on a Franklin foul and added another counter, making the score 35-20.

Senior Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) followed with a triple courtesy of Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley). Exactly a minute later, Amis put in a layup off a no look pass from Lewis, cutting Franklin's lead to 12.

Franklin once again stretched its lead to 17, only to have it trimmed to 10 at the 10:13 mark. Senior Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity) started the run with a triple before freshman post Sharonda Martin (Dayton/Stivers) dropped in a chip shot from Stegmaier. Another three-point bomb from Yoder and a Lewis layup made the score 47-37.

Bluffton got within 55-46 thanks to a pair of Coburn free throws at the 4:16 mark, but the Grizzlies limited the home team to a Brenna Kurilec (Mt. Gilead/Gilead Christian) layin with 25 ticks remaining as Franklin improved to 7-0 with the 60-48 win over the Beavers.

Amis led the Beavers with nine points. Yoder and Martin contributed eight and seven points, respectively. Lewis led the Beavers with eight rebounds, while Coburn picked up six caroms. Sarah Condra paced the Grizzlies with 20 points (5-of-17 from the field), eight boards and five assists.

Bluffton hit 15-of-53 (28.3 percent) from the field, compared to 19-of-58 (32.8 percent) for the visitors. The Beavers struggled converted 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from behind the arc, while Franklin made just 3-of-17 (17.6 percent), including 0-of-7 in the final 20 minutes.

The home team knocked down 12-of-16 (70.4 percent) at the line. The Grizzlies made 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) at the charity stripe. Franklin turned the ball over 14 times while forcing 18 miscues.

The Beavers travel Wooster on Tuesday, Dec. 6, for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Fighting Scots.