By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant

Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University Beavers hit the road to Cincinnati and cruised home with a victory over the Mount St Joseph Lions , 87-48, on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Bluffton's victory tied the Beavers with Franklin for second place in the HCAC at 4-1, behind only Transylvania, which now sits at 5-0. The Lions fell to 4-8 and are 0-5 in conference play.

A hot start keyed the victory for Bluffton. After a 2-0 Lion lead to open the contest, the Beavers would rattle off the next 16 to take the double-digit lead in the first six minutes of the contest. Mount responded with a 5-0 run, trimming the deficit to single digits before another 12-0 spurt which gave Bluffton a 29-7 advantage at the 7:56 mark. Bluffton finished the period with a 10-0 jag, giving the Beavers a commanding 45-18 lead at the break. The lead continued to mushroom, going as high as 45 points in the victory.

The Lions shot just 19.4 percent (7-of-36) from the floor in the first stanza which played a large part in the halftime deficit. They finished just 17-of-60 (28.3 percent) from the floor, including 0-for-11 from three-point land. Bluffton shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) on the night. The visitors also shot well from the stripe, as the Beavers converted 29-of-34 (85.3 percent) in the contest. Bluffton dominated the battle of the boards, 57-26.

The Beavers had four girls in double figures, led by freshman Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus), who put up her first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 11 boards, to go along with three steals and her first career block while making her first start. Bluffton’s leading scorer Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) added 14 on a perfect 6-of-6 at the line, while Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross) finished with 13 tallies and six boards.

Senior Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) came off the bench to score 10 on 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Gwen Downing (Kenton) added eight counters and a career-high eight boards. Also scoring career highs tonight for the Beavers were Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East) with five to go along with five rebounds, Jessica Boggan (Cincinnati/Princeton) with four and Ashley SaLyer (Marion/River Valley) with four.

The Beavers return to action this Saturday, Jan. 10, as they hit the road to take on the 7-5 (3-2 HCAC) Hanover College Panthers at 2 p.m. Bluffton finally returns to the Sommer Center next Wednesday, Jan. 14, when they welcome arch-rival Defiance College in a special weeknight women’s/men’s double feature! The women’s game tips at 6 p.m. Come support your Beavers!

-BEAVERS-