Women's basketball drops Bluffton 76-74

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By James Hornett, December 15, 2008

The Grizzlies improved their record to (4-3, 2-1 HCAC) with the two point victory. The Beavers fell to (5-3, 1-2 HCAC).

 

The Grizzlies nearly blew an 11 point lead in the second half to allow Bluffton the opportunity to win.

 

The first and last points of the game belonged to Planalp. In both cases, the points were scored on free throws which were the difference in the game.

 

The score at the half was 42-35 in favor of the Grizzlies.

 

Sophomores Brittany Wilson and Planalp led the Grizzlies in points and assists respectively. Wilson ended the first half with 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting and 5 of 6 from behind the three point arc. Planalp had nine points with six of the team’s nine assists.

 

Junior Tracy Lippold led the Grizzlies on the boards with 4 of the 17 rebounds in the half.

The Grizzlies ended the half shooting 50 percent off 15-of-30 field goal attempts. The team was also six of nine from behind the three-point line and six of ten from the free throw line.

 

The Beavers were led by junior Ginny Buckingham with 10 points and 4 rebounds. The Beavers out-rebounded the Grizzlies 25 to 17 and dominated on the offensive glass 11 to 4. The Beavers shot 13 for 34 from the field, 3 of 11 from the three-point line and 6 of 11 from the charity stripe.

 

The first period was dominated by the Beavers in the paint with an 18-12 advantage and a 7-3 lead in second chance points. Bluffton also outscored Franklin off the bench 10 to 4. The Grizzlies had the advantage in points off turnovers with a 13-6 advantage.

 

The second half saw an 11 point lead evaporate for the Grizzlies to a deficit with 1:33 left in the half. A lay-up from junior Kristina Appelhans cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left and with a free throw to come.

 

A steal from Planalp and a drive with four seconds left on the clock resulted in a foul by the Beavers. Planalp sunk both shots and was the difference in the game for the Grizzlies.

 

The Grizzlies finished with three players in double figures. Wilson finished with a game leading 29 points, Planalp with 14 and Lippold with 12 points. Lippold and Wilson finished atop the leader board in rebounds with five apiece. The Grizzlies finished with 29 rebounds to 38 of the Beavers.

 

The Grizzlies finished 26-of-54 from the field with a solid 48 percent, but shot just two-of-nine from three in the second half. The Grizzlies were nearly perfect in the second half from the free throw line shooting 10-of-11. Planalp also led the Grizzlies with seven of the 15 assists in the game.

 

The Beavers also finished with three players in double figures. Buckingham finished with 18, and Emily Shellabarger and Beth Yoder had 16 each. Buckingham grabbed seven rebounds. The Beavers Kim Miller and Vicki Auer led the team with 6 assists apiece of the 19 the team recorded.

 

The Beavers shot 47 percent from the field off of 28 of 60. The team also shot 62 percent off 13 of 21 from the charity stripe.

 

The Grizzlies will take on Mount Mary College back at the Spurlock Center Sunday at 3 p.m.