Beavers Withstand Raven Comeback

Bluffton University withstood a comeback effort from the Anderson University women's basketball team by claiming a 63-58 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) victory on Saturday in Bluffton, Ohio.

The Beavers (8-15, 6-10) held a 50-36 lead with 4 minutes, 7 seconds left in the third quarter. Anderson (11-12, 7-9) sparked a 19-4 run to take a 55-54 lead with 3:29 left in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bluffton held a 22-16 lead through the first quarter.

• The Beavers went ahead by eight points, but Anderson chipped away and took a 28-27 lead behind a Neva Sheets 3-pointer.

• Bluffton compiled a 13-2 run to go ahead 48-35 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

• After Bluffton took a 50-36 lead, Anderson put together a 19-4 run to go ahead 55-54 with 3:29 left in the game. Sarah Sewak capped the run with a bucket and 1.

• Olivia Zender made two free throws to give Bluffton a 56-55 lead. Sydney Sierota completed a bucket and 1 to put Anderson ahead 58-56 with 2:35 to go.

• Zender drew two free throws on the following possession. She made the first free throw. Zender missed the second free throw, but Lacie Fenstermaker collected the rebound. Kayla Prigge then knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Beavers a 60-58 lead.

• An offensive foul and two Bluffton defensive stops kept Anderson off the board, forcing a need for Anderson to foul. The Beavers iced the game by making three of their last four free throws.

• The Beavers outrebounded the Ravens 52-41. Bluffton held a 16-11 advantage in offensive rebounds and outscored Anderson 19-5 on second-chance points.

• Bluffton converted 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) shots from the free-throw line while Anderson drained 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.

• The Beavers knocked down 19-of-63 (30.2 percent) shots from the field while the Ravens hit 18-of-63 (28.6 percent) attempts from the floor.

• Anderson made 8-of-25 (32 percent) attempts from 3-point range while Bluffton converted 7-of-20 (35 percent) shots from behind the arc.

• The Beavers committed 16 turnovers while the Ravens turned the ball over 14 times. In spite of finishing minus two on turnovers, Bluffton outscored Anderson 12-11 off turnovers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Makynlee Taylor - 14 Points, 11 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 1 Block, 3/5 (60%) 3FG

• Sarah Sewak - 11 Points

• Bella Larrison - 8 Points, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals

• Izzy Davis - 7 Rebounds, 7 Points, 2 Steals, 2 Assists

• Sydney Sierota - 7 Points, 5 Steals

• Neva Sheets - 5 Points

• Ella Turner - 5 Rebounds, 2 Points

• Victoria Detraz - 2 Points

• Katie Tatum - 2 Points

UP NEXT

Anderson hosts Hanover College (16-7, 14-2) on Senior Day in HCAC action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.