BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team exacted revenge on a Manchester University squad that held the Beavers to 38 points just 14 days ago. Bluffton scored at least 22 points in each quarter en route to a 94-70 shellacking on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026!
It was like deja vu for junior Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) who hit back-to-back triples in the first two minutes for a quick 6-2 Bluffton lead. Nine straight counters for senior Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central), including a wide-open three-ball, pushed the spread to 15-6 at the 4:36 mark. Freshman Macee Heckathorn (Kenton) dialed long distance and Brown followed with another deuce as Bluffton took a 22-14 lead after one frame.
Stevely continued her torrid shooting with 11 points in the second stanza. She added a pair of trifectas, giving her four in the first half. Sophomore Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) and junior Erin Schaufelberger (Van Wert) did their damage down low, bucketing four points apiece in quarter two.
Three more triples for Stevely in the third quarter had the sharpshooter one bomb away from Kyla Columber's school mark of eight. It also equaled what she drilled just one week ago in Bluffton's demolition of Earlham! Freshman Karlie Niekamp (Tipp City/Fort Recovery) added six counters as the five Bluffton starters scored all 23 points on the way to a comfortable 68-53 spread heading to the final quarter.
Junior Jessica Moore (Trenton/Edgewood) hit from outside the arc, Townsend dropped in a pair of bunnies and Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) got to the rack, pushing the Bluffton lead to 79-55 midway through the fourth period. A hoop and harm for Townsend followed by a Niekamp tip-in had the Beavers up by 26 at the 4:24 mark. Freshman Kacey Like (McComb) got into the scoring column thanks to a Fenstermaker assist and then the Sommer Center faithful went wild as Stevely drained her school-record tying eighth trey with junior Sharon Keefer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) waiting to check in for her at the table! A Heckathorn bucket and two free throws from Katie Sims (Perrysburg) made the final score 94-70 as Bluffton is closing in on a berth in the upcoming HCAC tournament.
Stevely torched her career-high with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 8-for-14 outside the arc! She also showed how unselfish she is, doling out a career-high eight dimes while picking up three steals. Townsend pumped in a career-high 13 points to go along with a career-best six blocks and nine boards. Niekamp and Heckathorn added eight and seven points, respectively. Brown stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Fenstermaker finished with six points, six rebounds and six helpers.
Bluffton was a red-hot 36-of-66 from the field (54.5 percent), including 11-of-22 (50 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers were 11-of-12 (91.7 percent) at the stripe. Both teams pulled down 41 rebounds, while Manchester forced the home team into two more turnovers (16-14). Bluffton took advantage on the fast break with a 19-6 edge in points.
The Bluffton women will celebrate Senior Day when Rose-Hulman comes to town on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is slated for approximately 3 p.m. following the men's game. The Senior Day introductions will take place 10 minutes prior to tip-off.
-BEAVERS-