The Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped a 63-34 decision to Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Bluffton falls to 5-10 on the season (3-5 HCAC), while Rose improved to 10-5 and 7-1 in the conference.

Bluffton got off to a slow start offensively as the home squad failed to score on its first four possessions of the game, while Rose-Hulman netted four quick points for a 4-0 lead with 7:12 left in the quarter. Sophomore Nora Hemminger (McComb) scored the first five points for the Beavers after a three-point bomb and two free throws with 5:46 remaining in the quarter cut the deficit to one point at 6-5. Bluffton continued to battle, taking a 16-12 lead at the end of one.

Rose-Hulman held Bluffton to just 2-for-13 from the field in the second quarter. Bluffton stayed within striking distance, down 26-24, thanks to its defense as the Beavers held the visiting team to just 14 points in the quarter.

Tj Mills (Dayton/Chaminade Julienne) started off the third period with a triple to give Bluffton the lead, 27-26, with 8:56 left in the third quarter. This was the lone bright spot in the quarter as it turned out to be the only Beaver basket in period three as Rose-Hulman finished the quarter on a 13-0 run, making the score 39-27 at the end of three rounds.

Rose-Hulman would cap off the run at 17-0 after the Engineers hit their first two shots in the fourth quarter, making the score 43-27 with 9:23 remaining in the final stanza. The rest of the game was more of the same story as Rose-Hulman continued to dominate en route to a 63-34 victory.

Mills was the only Bluffton player to score in double figures as she put up 13 while going 5-of-6 from the free throw line The junior also pulled down six rebounds. Freshman Brianna Gillig (New Reigel) scored five points along with her four rebounds. Hemminger also netted five points and had three steals. Junior Lj Olverson (Cincinnati/Princeton) pulled down six rebounds for the home team.

Ally Bromenschenkel led Rose-Hulman in scoring (17) and rebounding (13) as she posted an impressive double-double. Kayla Gerken scored 13 points, snatched seven rebounds and had five steals. Debie Gedeon added 11 and Hannah Woody tallied 10 markers. Abby Bromenschenkel led the vistors with six assists.

Bluffton connected on just 10-of-47 for the game, making 21.3 percent of its shots. Rose-Hulman finished 23-of-45 for 51.1 percent shooting. From long distance, Bluffton hit 5-of-24 for 20.8 percent. Rose-Hulman was an efficient 4-of-8 from downtown for 50 percent. Bluffton had 28 rebounds to Rose-Hulman's 36 and the visitors also doled out nine more assists (15-6).

Bluffton will get another chance at a victory on Wednesday, Jan. 16, when the women host the Manchester University Spartans in an HCAC battle that tips at 7:30 P.M. Come out and support your Beavers!