Ravens Host Beavers to Open HCAC Tournament

The Anderson University women's basketball team hosts Bluffton University in the Opening Round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

Anderson closed out the regular season with an 11-14 record and a 7-11 HCAC record to tie for fourth in the HCAC standings. Bluffton University (13-12, 7-11) and Earlham College (8-17, 7-11) also tied for fourth, but tiebreakers let the No. 4-No. 6 seeds to fall to Anderson, Bluffton and Earlham, respectively. Anderson is making its first HCAC Tournament appearance since the 2009-10 season.

The Ravens surged through the conference standings after winning five of their last eight games.

"Over the last four weeks, we have gone 5-3, and have started to play with some much-deserved confidence," Coach Lindsay Shade said. "It's important that we carry that confidence into the tournament and continue to do the things that have helped us be successful."

Lexi Dellinger leads the Ravens with 14.4 points per game. The 5-foot-5 sophomore guard converted 55-of-61 (90.2 percent) shots from the free-throw line and 50-of-125 (40 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Dellinger ranks sixth in the nation in free-throw percentage and 34th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage. Among HCAC leaders, Dellinger ranks first in free-throw percentage, second in 3-point field-goal percentage, third in 3-pointers made per game (2.38) and fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.25). Dellinger has also dished out a team-high 3.0 assists per game.

Payton Moore has contributed 14.1 points per game. The 6-foot sophomore from Spiceland paces the Ravens with 8.0 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game. Moore had drained 99-of-129 attempts from the charity stripe for a .767 free-throw percentage, which ranks fourth in the conference. She has also blocked 1.1 shots per game.

Hannah Hawkins has turned in 9.1 points per game. The 6-foot-2 junior center from Fairmount leads the conference and ranks 21st in the nation with 2.76 blocks per game. Hanna Ault has scored 5.9 points per game. Jade Shipley has provided 5.8 points per game and Kristin Dubois has tallied 3.4 points per game.

Anderson ranks 25th in the nation in free-throw percentage (.743). The Ravens currently lead the HCAC in free-throw percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.278).

Anderson currently ranks second in the HCAC in scoring defense, allowing just 56.7 points per game. The Ravens have limited opponents to 55.8 points per game in the conference season, which also ranks second in the HCAC.

"I am pleased with the way we have progressed and how our players have adapted along the way as we have dealt with the injury bug. We have been working all season to hold opponents to 55 points a game and limiting our turnovers per game to 16. We have slowly been chipping away at those things, and, in conference play, are now holding teams to 55.8 points a game and averaging 17.4 turnovers per game."

Brianna Gillig leads the Beavers with 16.8 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game. She has knocked down 146-of-338 (43.2 percent) shots from the floor. Among HCAC leaders, Gillig ranks third in points per game and fourth in field-goal percentage.

"Bluffton is a tough team and they have one of the top scorers in the conference in Brianna Gillig. Although we won our second game against them, we allowed Gillig to score 29 points. She is versatile offensively and very tough on the offensive glass."

T.J. Mills has tallied 12.4 points per game. She currently leads the HCAC in steals per game (2.84) and assists per game (4.0). Mills has recorded a 1.56 assist-turnover ratio, which ranks third in the conference.

"Their senior point guard, T.J. Mills is their leader and has been much more aggressive offensively in their last several games. Our defense will be centered around containing those two players."

Nora Hemminger has contributed 7.4 points per game, Sammy Shardo has produced 6.2 points per game and Kylie Brock has turned in 5.8 points per game. Emma Stalzman has recorded 0.8 blocks per game.

"It's going to be very important that we limit [Bluffton's] transition scoring opportunities and that we defend in the half court without sending them to the free-throw line."

The Ravens continue to focus on limiting opponent scoring and limiting turnovers as they have all season.

"We have to take care of the ball and execute on the offensive end of the floor. Defensively, we have to implement scout strategy, defend without fouling, and keep our opponents off the offensive glass. When we do those things, we are a tough team to beat."

In the HCAC Tournament Field, Transylvania University (23-2, 17-1) and Hanover College (18-6, 17-1) shared the regular-season HCAC title. Transylvania, ranked No. 6 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, claimed the No. 1 seed on a tiebreaker. Franklin College (16-8, 12-6) claimed the No. 3 seed. Anderson, Bluffton and Earlham round out the tournament field.

TICKET INFO

Adults: $8

Senior Citizens: $5

Non-HCAC Students: $5

HCAC Students: FREE with valid campus ID

HCAC Faculty/Staff: FREE with valid campus ID

Children under 3: FREE

HCAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

HCAC Tournament Opening Round – Tuesday, Feb. 25

Game #1: 7:30 p.m. – No. 5 Bluffton at No. 4 Anderson – O.C. Lewis Gymnasium (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Game #2: 7:30 p.m. – No. 6 Earlham at No. 3 Franklin – Franklin (Live Video) (Live Stats)

HCAC Tournament Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 29 – Lexington, Ky.

Game #3: 1 p.m. – Winner of Game #1 at No. 1 Transylvania (Live Video)

Game #4: 3 p.m. – Winner of Game #2 vs. No. Hanover (Live Video)

HCAC Tournament Championship – Sunday, March 1 – Lexington, Ky.

Game #5: 11:30 a.m. – Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #3 (Live Video)

HCAC Tournament Page