BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's basketball team celebrated three ladies as part of the Senior Day festivities before welcoming Rose-Hulman to the Sommer Center on Saturday, Feb. 14. The Engineers spoiled the celebration with a convincing 73-57 victory that capped off a season sweep for the visitors. Bluffton fell to 11-13 overall and 7-10 in the conference, while Rose improved to 8-16 and 7-10 in the HCAC.
Five quick points from senior Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) gave the Beavers a 5-2 lead less than minute into the contest. Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) got in on the action as she and Brown combined for the first 12 Bluffton counters. A Kacey Like (McComb) freebie and two charity tosses for senior Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboia) added up to 15 points for the home team, but Rose led by eight headed to the second quarter.
Brown was the story again in period two, scoring nine of Bluffton's 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. However, Rose opened a 42-28 spread at the break.
Bluffton was on the wrong end of a 22-15 scoring splurge in the third quarter despite 10 points from Fenstermaker and Macee Heckathorn (Kenton). The visitors held a commanding 64-43 edge with 10 minutes to play.
Like knocked down three free throws before Erin Schaufelberger (Van Wert) sandwiched a pair of chip shots around a Fenstermaker layin. Bluffton outscored the Engineers 14-9 in the final stanza, but Rose won the war with a 73-57 victory.
Katie Sims (Perysburg) started alonside fellow seniors Brown and Fenstermaker and she dished out an assist in her final game at the Sommer Center. Fenstermaker notched her ninth career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. Brown just missed out on her 15th with a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds. Townsend finished with seven counters and seven caroms. Like and Brown dished out three assists apiece. Heckathorn blocked two shots and tallied six points.
Bluffton hit just 19-of-62 from the field (30.6 percent), including a paltry 2-for-12 (16.7 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers were 17-of-25 (68 percent) from distance. Bluffton pulled down four more rebounds (49-45), but the home team turned it over nine more times (17-8).
The Bluffton women travel to Anderson for the final regular season game on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Tip-off from O.C. Lewis Gymnasium is slated for 7 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
