By Jordan Marbaugh, sports information assistant

Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2013/11-16-wb.htm

The Bluffton University women’s basketball team opened the new Sommer Center and and its 2012-13 season with a hard-fought win over Aurora University on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.

The Beavers (1-0) will play in the Tip-Off Tournament finals at 3 p.m. on Saturday against Hiram College, while Aurora matches up with Pitt-Greensburg at 1 p.m.

At the 19:17 mark, sophomore Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) became the first player to score in the new athletic complex as she gave the Beavers an early 2-0 lead over Aurora.

The two teams battled back and forth and at the 10:39 mark, the game was knotted at 11. The Beavers went on an 11-6 run to take a 22-17 lead with 4:29 left in the first half. Aurora would not go away as the visitors battled back, going up 27-25 at the break.

Freshman Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) started the second half with a three-pointer to put the Beavers back on top, 28-27. The defenses ruled the night as the Beavers held on to their slim 38-37 lead with 8:05 to play.

The home team took control with an 8-2 run that was ignited by a Brooke Ruffer (Stryker) layup following a slick feed from fellow freshman Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross).

Solid Bluffton defense and clutch free throws down the stretch by freshman point guard Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) allowed the Beavers to pull out the opening round 54-46 Bluffton Tip-Off Tournament win.

The Beaver offense was led by Ruffer and Rachel DeBord (Lebanon) with 10 points apiece. DeBord added three steals, three assists and five rebounds. Coburn, Knight and Lauren Hutton (New Riegel) all pulled down seven rebounds in the victory.

Bluffton won the war on the glass, pulling down 10 more boards (46-36) than Aurora. The visitors turned it over five more times (19-14) than the Beavers. The foul line proved to be the difference as Bluffton (17-of-29)  made six more free throws than AU (6-of-11) attempted.

The Beavers return to action Saturday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Bluffton University Tip-Off Tournament championship game.