By Takayla Gadberry, Sports Information Alumna
www.BlufftonBeavers.com

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton University women's basketball team opened the McDonald's Holiday Classic on Friday, Dec. 29, with a 76-55 loss to Muskingum. The Beavers dipped to 2-8 (1-3 HCAC) on the season while the Muskies improved to 5-5 (1-3 OAC).

It was a silent start for the Bluffton offense as Muskingum took a 20-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) drained a shot from deep to put the Beavers on the board, 20-3, at the 5:24 mark. Three more triples for Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry), Kyla Columber (Marion/Pleasant) and Katie Sims (Perrysburg) led to a 37-17 score in favor of the Muskies at the end of the first frame.

The Beavers started off the second quarter with a layup and freebie for Tamron Brinkman (Dayton/East Dayton Christian) to pull within 17 (37-20). An 8-7 run for Bluffton, highlighted by another Prigge trifecta, had the home team down 44-28 with four minutes to go in the half. An offensive drought to end the period saw Muskingum score eight compared to just four for the Beavers and a halftime score of 52-32 in favor of the visitors.

The Muskies made it on the board first with two free shots to increase their lead to 54-32. A deuce for Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath) and two charity tosses from Katie Neuhart (Delaware/Delaware Christian) pulled the Beavers back within 17 (54-37). The 15-3 run for the home team, with triples by Prigge and Columber in the spotlight, cut their deficit to 10 (57-47) at the end of the third stanza.

Bluffton found the net first in the fourth with a freebie for Prigge before seven straight Muskingum points made it 64-48. A 12-4 spurt for the Muskies pushed their lead to 24 (76-52) and a continuous strong offensive presence for the visitors secured the 76-55 victory.

Powering the Beaver offense was Prigge with 17 points. Fitzpatrick added nine tallies to the scoreboard. Neuhart chipped in seven points and a career-high six assists in the loss. Brinkman led the defense with a career-best nine rebounds while Neuhart was two off her pace with seven boards.

Bluffton made just 16-of-60 (26.7 percent) from the field and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from the arc compared to 25-of-52 (48.1 percent) and 15-of-30 (50 percent) from distance for Muskingum. The visitors drilled 8-of-10 triples in the first quarter. The Beavers drained 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) of their charity shots while the Muskies converted 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) at the line. Both teams tallied 38 rebounds and the home team turned the ball over three fewer times (13-10).

The Beavers will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 30, for day two of the McDonald's Holiday Classic when they face Mount Union. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. on Copeland Court.