ANDERSON, Ind. - The BLuffton University women's basketball team dropped an 83-54 decision at Anderson University on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Bluffton fell to 11-14 overall and 7-11 in the Heartland Conference, while Anderson improved to 16-9 and 12-6 in the HCAC. Despite the loss, Bluffton nailed down the 7-seed in the upcoming conference tournament and with it a trip to 2-seeded Franklin.
Early triples from juniors Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) and Jessica Moore (Trenton/Edgewood) had the visitors up 6-2 less than two minutes into the game. Senior Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) and sophomore Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) followed with two-point buckets, making it 10-9 Bluffton at the 5:47 mark, but a 13-2 jag to wrap up the quarter made it 22-12 AU after one frame.
A pair of Stevely treys in the second stanza had the Beaver faithful excited momentarily, however, Anderson rolled to a 50-21 lead at the break.
Back-to-back Townsend bunnies were followed by deuces from freshman Macee Heckathorn (Kenton) and Stevely as Bluffton pulled within 66-40 heading to the final period.
Heckathorn led the way with eight markers in the fourth, while junior Sharon Keefer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) knocked down a jumper at the 5:35 mark as Anderson cruised to an 83-54 victory over the Beavers.
Stevely paced Bluffton with 16 points. Brown and Heckathorn added 12 points apiece. Heckathorn netted her first collegiate double-double with a career-best 10 boards. Townsend added seven points and eight rebounds. Stevely dished out three assists and Townsend picked up a career-high three steals. Keefer ripped down four rebounds and picked up two steals while adding two points for a trio of career highs.
Bluffton hit just 19-of-74 (25.7 percent) from the field, including a paltry 4-for 26 (15.4 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers were 12-of-16 (75 percent) at the stripe. Bluffton pulled down one more rebound (47-46) and both teams coughed it up 16 times.
The Bluffton women will travel to Franklin College for a 2 p.m. start with the Grizzlies in round one of the HCAC Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21.
-BEAVERS-