By Martin Kluk, sports information intern

Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2012/01-28-wb.htm

The Bluffton women's basketball team put up a strong fight but fell short (60-45) on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, to the conference-leading Grizzlies of Franklin College. The loss snapped a streak of five-straight HCAC wins by the Beavers while dropping the team to 7-12 (5-7 HCAC). The home team improved to 18-1 overall (11-1 HCAC).

Lauren Hutton (New Riegel) started the game hot for the Beavers, scoring the team's first three buckets for a 6-2 advantage five minutes in. Franklin settled down and answered with a 12-point jag for a 14-6 lead with eight and a half minutes to play in the first period.

Beth Yoder (Marshallville/Smithville) made her mark in this big game for Bluffton. The senior sharpshooter came off the bench and gave the team a spark in the first period, scoring seven of Bluffton's nine points in a quick run by the Beavers which cut the Franklin lead to 17-15 with 2:32 remaining in the half. Franklin standout Sarah Condra drained a triple that put the home team up 22-17 heading into the locker room.

Franklin notched the first 10 points of the second stanza to open up a 32-17 advantage just three minutes into the period. A Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop) layup with 13 minutes to play cut the deficit to 35-25, but after that tally, it was all Grizzlies. They built the lead up to as much as 20 and coasted in for a 60-45 victory at the expense of Beavers who were looking to extend their school-record five-game HCAC winning streak.

Turnovers and fouls plagued Bluffton throughout the game as they struggled to find any offensive rhythm. Sending the skilled and experienced Franklin squad to the charity stripe for 21-of-28 freebies was too much to overcome.

Bluffton hit only 18-of-56 from the field for 32.1 percent, including 6-of-19 for 31.6 percent outside the arc. Franklin was not much better, shooting 18-of-47 for 38.3 percent from the field. The difference came in the free throw department as the Grizzlies attempted 24 more foul shots (21-of-28 for 75 percent). The Beavers made 75 percent as well, however, it was on just four attempts (3-of-4).

Leading the Beavers were Hutton with 11 points and Yoder with 10 points. Senior Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) had a well-rounded game with seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

Bluffton continues conference action at Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Tip-off at Harrington Arena is slated for 7:30 p.m.