The Bluffton University women’s basketball team suffered a tough defeat (95-62) at #11 Thomas More on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The Saints opened the game on a 10-2 run and never looked back. Thomas More led 50-32 at the break even though Bluffton knocked down 10-of-21 from the field (47.6 percent) in the first 20 minutes.

The Beavers came out in the second half and battled, but the home team proved to be too much as Thomas More won the game in convincing fashion, 95-62.

Freshman Brooke Ruffer (Stryker) notched her second double-double with 16 points and a game-high11 rebounds. Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross) added nine points, while sophomore Brenna Kurilec (Mt. Gilead/Gilead Christian) dropped in seven counters.

Rachel DeBord (Lebanon) led the visitors with four assists. Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) added three assists and two steals.

Bluffton hit 20-of-48 (41.7 percent) from the field, but the Saints were 35-of-66 (53 percent). The Beavers had a slim 34-32 edge on the glass, but Thomas More negated that by forcing Bluffton into 27 turnovers for the night, 17 more than the home team committed.

The women return to action next Friday, Dec. 28, when they head to Holland, Mich., to take on Baldwin-Wallace in the Hope College Tournament. The game is set to tip at 5:30 p.m.