The Bluffton University women's basketball team was defeated by Anderson University, 76-69, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The loss dropped the Beavers to 4-9 on the season (2-4 HCAC), while Anderson improved to 7-6 (3-3 HCAC).

The Beavers got off to a quick 4-0 start after freshman guard Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) hit two layups to begin the game. Anderson would finish the first quarter with a flurry as they tallied the last eight points for a 16-8 advantage at the end of one.

The home team would score four more points to begin the second period, making it 20-8 after a Hanna Ault lay up with 9:12 remaining in the first half. The Beavers quickly responded with an 8-0 spurt, capped off by two Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) free throws with 7:15 on the clock. Bluffton continued to scratch its way back into the game, eventually taking the lead after an Lj Olverson (Cincinnati/Princeton) foul shot made it 28-27 with 3:34 remaining in the second quarter. The Beavers went into the halftime break leading 32-31 after an impressive 24-point second period.

The third quarter started off back-and-forth as the teams exchanged baskets and were still tied at 49-49 after an Olverson layup with 2:27 remaining in the third stanza. Anderson finished the period on a 10-5 run as the Ravens took a 59-54 lead at the end of three rounds.

The Beavers were never able to recapture the lead in the final period as Anderson outscored the visitors 17-15 en route to a 76-69 victory.

Bluffton was led by Gillig as she scored a career-high 22 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Tj Mills (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) went for 17 points and led the Beavers with three steals. Fellow junior Chelsea Moore (Delaware/Olentangy) added 10 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.

Anderson had five different players score in double figures. They were led by Lexi Dellinger who scored 17 points, going 7-8 from the free throw line, and she also dished out four assists. Payton Moore led the Ravens in rebounds with nine and she added 14 points while knocking down 5-of-8 from the floor.

The Beavers hit 26-of-66 for the game, making 39.4 percent of their shots. Anderson was a blazing 55.8 percent from the floor, going 24-of-43 for the game. The Beavers weren't able to hit one three-point shot, finishing 0-of-8 in the loss. Anderson canned 6-of-13 from long distance for 46.2 percent. Bluffton was outstanding at the free throw line, going 17-of-20 for 85 percent. Anderson shot 22-29 from the charity stripe for 75.9 percent. Anderson pulled down 34 rebounds, compared to Bluffton's 31, but the visitors turned it over eight fewer times (17-9).

Bluffton will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 9, when the women travel to Defiance College to take on the other purple team up north.