By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

The Bluffton University women's basketball was defeated by defending Division III champion and #4 ranked Washington University of St. Louis on Thursday, December 30, in the consolation game of the Hoops for Hope Tournament at Ohio Wesleyan University. Bluffton dropped to 4-7 overall, while Washington (Mo.) improved to 9-2 for the 2010-11 season.

The Beavers took an early lead with a stickback from freshman Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop) following a Kim Miller (Delphos/St. John's) miss. For the next four minutes the Beavers and Bears battled for the lead. A three-pointer from freshman Kim Meyer (Millbury/Lake) put Bluffton up 13-11 at the 12:34 mark.

A triple from Beth Yoder (Marshallville/Smithville) tied the game before two more three-pointers by Brittany Stegmaier (Garfield/Trinity) and Jessica Beatty (Kettering/Fairmont) gave the Beavers a 27-21 advantage with 3:15 to play in the period. Bluffton stayed on top until back-to-back Washington chip shots put the Bears up 32-29 at the break.

Both teams came out in the second half ready to score. The Bears stayed on top, but a Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora) trifecta cut the Washington lead to just two points less than three minutes into the period. A three-pointer by Francena Tate (Fostoria/St. Wendelin) pulled the Beavers within one (42-41) and less than a minute later a Stegmaier layin tied the game at 43.

The Bears responded with a 19-2 jag that ended Bluffton's hopes for a huge upset. Six Burkholder points and a pair of Brittany Stegmaier bombs helped the Beavers trim the deficit to eight points (67-59) with less than a minute to play but Washington salted it away with four counters in the final 44 seconds for a 71-59 victory.

Burkholder led the Beavers with a career-high 10 points and seven boards while picking up two steals. Meyer and Stegmaier both added eight points and three off the glass while teammate Kim Miller chipped in with eight points and seven boards. Miller was named to the Hoops for Hope All-Tournament team for her performance which included eclipsing 1,000 career points and taking over as the all-time assists leader at Bluffton with 341 to this point.

Bluffton hit 21-of-59 (35.6 percent) from the field, while Washington made 26-of-62 (41.9 percent). The Beavers went 9-of-30 (30 percent) from behind the arc compared to just two deep makes by Washington (16.7 percent). The Beavers knocked down 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) at the line, while the Bears were 17-of-31 (54.8 percent). Washington won a close battle on the boards (41-40) and the Bears turned it over six fewer times (19-13).

The Bluffton University women's basketball team will resume Heartland Conference action when it travels to Hanover College on Wednesday, January 5. The battle between the Beavers and the Panthers is slated for 6 p.m.