By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant

Stats

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women continued their winning ways as they returned to conference play with a 58-46 victory over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, Jan. 3. The Beavers earned the victory despite shooting only 35.1 percent from the floor and 60.9 percent from the charity stripe. Bluffton improved to 8-3 and 3-1 in HCAC play while Rose-Hulman fell to 6-5 and 2-2, respectively.

The early stages of the game saw momentum go back and forth, as the lead would change hands four times in the first 10 minutes of action, the last being on a jumper from Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) that gave the Beavers a 15-14 advantage at the 10:13 mark of the first half. That bucket, followed by a triple from Whitaker, ignited a 12-0 Beaver jag that gave the home team an 11-point lead at the 6:32 mark following a deuce from Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross). The Engineers would scratch it down to seven before buckets from Rachel Beining (Ottoville) and Brenna Kurilec (Mt. Gilead/Gilead Christian) gave Bluffton an 11-point halftime advantage at 37-26.

The second half saw even less scoring, with each team netting just eight points apiece in the first 12 minutes of the stanza. Rose-Hulman tried to make it interesting in the late-going, trimming the deficit down to eight points twice in the final three minutes, but it was no use as Bluffton responded every time for the 58-46 victory.

The Beavers won despite their woeful 35.1 percent (20-of-57) shooting from the floor, including just 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from deep and 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the line. The Engineers were not much better, however, shooting just 41.3 percent (19-of-46), 16.7 percent (1-of-6) from beyond the arc and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the stripe. Bluffton won the rebounding battle, 37-35, and committed eight fewer turnovers (18-10) in the contest.

Bluffton was led by two women in double figures. Kaitlyn Pennekamp scored 17 and added five boards and four steals, while Taylor Whitaker chipped in 16 points, three assists and two steals. Rachel Beining countered five points, but also had eight rebounds and two assists. Senior Brenna Kurilec and newcomer Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East) had five tallies as well. Junior Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) led the Beavers with five assists to go along with her two points. The visitors were led by Abbie Marshall with her 16 points for the Engineers.

Bluffton plays back-to-back conference matchups on the road as the Beavers head to Cincinnati to face the Mount St Joseph Lions on Wednesday, Jan. 7 (7:30 p.m.) and to Hanover, Ind. to take on the Hanover College Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 10. They return home on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to battle arch-rival Defiance College at 6 p.m. Come support your Beavers!

-BEAVERS-