The Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped a 54-51 decision to Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. The Battling Bishops improved to 4-2 on the season, while Bluffton slipped to 2-2.

The home team went on a 7-2 run that was ignited by an old-fashioned three-point play from Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) with 6:34 to play, but OWU finished the game on a 9-0 run over the final 5:08 en route to their 54-51 victory that left the Sommer Center faithful stunned.

Bluffton jumped out to a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gillig hit consecutive deuces and Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) drained a triple as the Bluffton offense flourished in the opening stanza. 

Quarter number two saw the visitors use a 16-7 run to go up by five (29-24) with 3:37 on the clock. Sophomore Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) quelled the onslaught with a layin before Gillig capped the half with five straight counters as Bluffton knotted it up at 31 apiece heading to the break.

With Bluffton trailing by three, Morgan Smith (Arlington) got to the rack for consecutive buckets and Shardo canned a jumper in the paint, putting Bluffton up 44-43 heading to the final period. However, after Bluffton opened up its 51-45 spread, the well went dry and Ohio Wesleyan did enough to collect its fourth victory of the season.

Gillig and Shardo led the way with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Gillig cleaned the glass with a game-high 13 rebounds for her second straight double-double! Smith chipped in with seven counters and five boards. Peyton Henry (Leipsic), Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) and Shardo, who hit 3-of-5 from distance, all doled out three helpers.

Bluffton hit 20-of-44 (45.5 percent) from the field while limiting OWU to a paltry 22-for-64 (34.4 percent). The Beavers also dominated the boards (39-32), but turnovers were the story as Bluffton threw it away 25 times, compared to just 12 miscues for the Bishops. Ohio Wesleyan scored 17 points off Bluffton turnovers.

The Bluffton team will play their first Heartland Conference game of the season on Saturday, Dec. 4, when they make the long trip to Hanover College. Tip-off is slated to go at 4 p.m. following the men's matchup with the Panthers.