November 22, 2016

Stats

TIFFIN, Ohio - Three games away from the Sommer Center to start the season no problem for the Bluffton University women's basketball team as the Beavers downed host Heidelberg University 70-64 for a 3-0 mark. The Student Princes fought to the end, but fell to 1-2 with the loss.

A roller coaster ride of a fourth quarter saw the Bluffton women finish on top as six makes from the charity stripe in the final 36 seconds provided the margin of victory for the visitors. Nine straight points for Bluffton following a Heidelberg to deuce to open the fourth put the Beavers up, 56-45, with 6:48 to play. The Berg responded with seven straight markers, forcing Coach Shutler to call timeout at the 5:19 mark.

An old-fashioned three-point play from Carli Patrick pulled the home team within one (60-59) before Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East) and Rachel Beining (Ottoville) responded with buckets for a 64-59 lead. Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus) hit three of Bluffton's freebies with the clock winding down to help the Beavers secure their third straight win to open the 2016-17 season.

Rowe (6-of-13 from the field) and Beining (9-of-17 from the field) shared top scoring honors with 19 points apiece, while Sheerer hit 7-of-8 from the line for 17 points and 12 boards. Beining also got in on the double-double action with 10 boards to go along with her four huge blocks. Beining and Rowe handed out four and three assists, respectively. Abigail O'Donnell (Arcanum) ripped down seven rebounds for the victors.

Bluffton hit 23-of-58 from the field (39.7 percent), compared to 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) for the Student Princes but it was the line where the Beavers made hay. Both teams missed just four free throws, however, Bluffton shot 20-of-24 (83.3 percent) while Heidelberg  was 10-of-14. The visitors blocked five more shots (7-2) and controlled the glass with a convincing 41-29 margin.

A well-deserved break for Thanksgiving awaits the Beavers before they kick off their home slate with a Monday night contest against Ohio State-Lima on November 28 at 7:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-