BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women led Transylvania by as many as nine points in the first half, but the Pioneers smothering defense slowed Bluffton down in the second on the way to 56-45 victory on a snowy Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. The visiting Pioneers improved to 6-2 overall with a spotless 3-0 mark in the Heartland Conference. Bluffton fell to 4-4 and 0-3 in the HCAC.
Junior Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) dialed long distance and freshman Karlie Niekamp (Tipp City/Fort Recovery) followed with a deuce, putting Bluffton up 5-4 at the six-minute mark of period one. Macee Heckathorn (Kenton) converted a stick-back and Niekamp dropped another deuce for a 9-4 spread. Three more points from Heckathorn gave the home team a 12-6 lead heading to the second quarter.
Back-to-back Niekamp jumpers followed by a Stevely bucket had the crowd roaring with the Beavers up 18-11. Stevely's second bomb and a Heckathorn layin with 20 seconds on the clock helped the Beavers to a 27-24 lead at the break.
Niekamp was on fire in the third stanza, going 4-of-7 from the field for eight of Bluffton's 10 points, but the Pioneers used a 17-10 advantage to go ahead 41-37 with 10 minutes to play.
Heckathorn's jumper and an old-fashioned three-point play from Rachel Clark (Lima/Bath) made it 43-42 Transy with eight minutes and change to play. However, the Beavers managed just three points the rest of the way as Transylvania tied a bow on its 56-45 victory.
Niekamp established a new career high with 18 points. Niekamp's 12 boards also smashed her previous career-high, adding up to her first collegiate double-double! Stevely and Heckathorn both checked in with nine markers. Jessica Moore (Trenton/Edgewood) dished out a career-best six dimes. Heckathorn and Moore ripped down eight and seven rebounds, respectively.
Bluffton hit 19-of-52 (36.5 percent) from the field, including 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers struggled mightily at the line, knocking down just 4-of-11 (36.4 percent).
The home team hauled in nine more rebounds (44-35), but the Beavers also turned it over a whopping 13 more times (22-9).
A rare Wednesday conference doubleheader is up next for the Bluffton women when they make the long trip down Interstate 75 to Berea College on December 17. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. following the men's matchup with the Mountaineers.
-BEAVERS-
