Women's Basketball: First Half Deficit Too Much for Bison to Overcome

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bethany College women's basketball team returned to action after the holiday break against Bluffton University, Thursday evening to open the Bluffton Holiday Tournament. Cold shooting in the first half left the Bison in a deficit and ended up falling 68-48 to the Beavers.  

GAME FLOW

• The Beavers took an early 10-0 lead before the Bison got on the board at the 2:13 mark of the first quarter with an Alexis Heap layup. Makenzee Mason scored the final five points of the quarter for the Green and White. The Bison ended the quarter on a 7-2 run, trailing the Beavers 12-7.
• Bluffton's offense exploded in the second stanza outscoring the Bison, 14-4. The Bison shot a cold, 16.1 percent (5-for-31) from the field in the first half. The Bison trailed 26-11 at the break. Freshmen Amelia Ferguson and Taylor Dusenberry scored a bucket apiece in the second stanza.
• The Beavers continued to build their lead and held the Bison scoreless through the first five minutes of the second half. Bella Skobel connected on a pair of foul shots. In the second of the of third stanza, the Bison strung together some points, with back-to-back three pointers from Ashleigh Wheeler and Alyssa Serensky and moments later a bucket from Wheeler cut the deficit, 46-23. The Bison trailed 48-28 after three.
• The Bison and Beavers were neck and neck in the fourth quarter but the damage was already done from the slow start.

IN THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore Ashleigh Wheeler led the Bison with nine points and five rebounds. She added three assists and one steal.
• Alyssa Serensky added eight points and three rebounds.
• Makenzee Mason added seven points with four rebounds.
• Sophie Morey had a team high six rebounds.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Bluffton shot 35.6% (26-73) from the field while Bethany shot 26.6% (17-64).
• The Bison edged the Beavers from behind the arc, 23.8% (5-21) to 16.0% (4-25).
• Bethany only had nine turnovers and scored 12 points off of 12 Bluffton turnovers.
• The Beavers outscored the Bison 13-0 on second chance points.

RECORDS

Bethany College – 2-9 (2-5 PAC)

Bluffton University – 7-3 (1-3 Heartland)

UP NEXT

Bethany will face Ohio Northern on Dec. 30 at noon to close out the Bluffton Holiday Tournament.