By Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
Stats
It was a tale of two halves as the Bluffton University women’s basketball team headed to Indiana to face off against Anderson University in their last road contest of the 2017-18 regular season.

Despite a slow start for the Beavers, senior KAYCEE ROWE (Harrod/Allen East) led the third quarter surge with a career-high 31 points that helped the visitors to a 75-54 win over the winless Ravens, improving to 17-6 on the season (12-4 HCAC).

After exchanging baskets for the first six minutes, Bluffton took advantage of a trifecta from NORA HEMMINGER (McComb) and a layup by Kaycee Rowe with 42 seconds left to take a 14-10 lead entering the second quarter. Freshman HEIDI CRADDOCK (Lima/Bath) hit a three of her own after a DJ KEESEY (Harrison/Central) layup that put the visiting Bluffton crew up 19-10. However, Anderson was able to fight back and go on an 11-2 run to tie the game up at 21 with 4:14 left in the half. The teams would go back-and-forth but a pair of free throws by Kaycee Rowe made it 30-28 Beavers at the break.

The visitors finally got some breathing room, 47-36 with 3:35 in the third quarter, after seven straight points from Kaycee Rowe. With 2:30 left, a Rowe layup allowed the Beavers to extend their lead to 18. Bluffton headed into the final quarter with a 59-43 advantage after RYANA WATSON hit a last-second jumper for the Ravens.

The Beavers continued to pour it on with a 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Two makes at the charity stripe from junior ERIKA MOTIEJUNAS (Mentor) made the score 73-52 with just under two minutes to play. Bluffton’s efficiency on both sides of the basketball was too much for Anderson to handle as the visitors marched to a 75-54 victory over the Ravens.

Kaycee Rowe was on fire for the day as the senior bucketed 31 points (career-high) on 10-of-15 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. She was just one basket away from the Bluffton single-game mark of 33 points! Sophomore TJ MILLS (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) added nine markers for the Beavers while MACEY SHEERER snagged a team-high eight rebounds in the victory.

Bluffton struggled from the floor, shooting 39.4 percent on 26-of-66, while Anderson hit 20-of-49 (40.8 percent) for the game. Despite losing the battle of the boards (39-34), Bluffton's tenacious defense forced 28 Raven turnovers that led to 32 points which played a crucial role in the win.

The Bluffton women will be back at home on Valentine’s Day to share some Beaver love as they welcome Manchester University with a tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!

-BEAVERS-