Women’s basketball drops final two regular season games
Sports Information Staff Report
February 21, 2005
2005 Heartland Conference women's tournament
The Bluffton University women’s basketball team (4-21, 1-13 HCAC) lost their final two regular season Heartland Conference games last week. The Beavers traveled to Defiance on Feb. 9 and lost the contest 76-58. On Feb. 12 the Beavers took on Manchester for their final regular season game; the Spartans took the win 83-46. The Beavers will be in action on Tuesday when they face Franklin College in the first-round of the HCAC tournament (6 p.m. tip off). The Grizzlies have won both contests against Bluffton this season, 75-57 and 69-41.
Bluffton University 58, Defiance College 76
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Bluffton University women’s basketball team (4-20, 1-12 HCAC) was defeated 76-58 by Defiance College (13-10, 9-4 HCAC) on Feb. 16.
Leading the Beavers on the evening was freshman Ashleigh Stallkmap (Paulding/Paulding) with 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Junior Karin Schaller (Jenera/Arlington) posted ten points, six rebounds and four assists (team high). Freshman Angie Lee (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) rounded out double digit scoring for the team with 11 points.
Battling back and forth through most of the first half the game stayed close until Defiance started to pull away and lead by 11 points with five minutes left in the period. Bluffton came back by hitting key shots and capitalizing on Defiance turnovers, to crunch the Yellow Jacket’s lead to four at halftime (30-26).
The Beavers came out strong in the second period and took a one point advantage (34-33) at the sixteen minute mark. Play continued to be fierce until Defiance hit four three pointers in a four minute stretch to take a ten point lead (58-48). Bluffton did not give up as the team pushed back to within four points with two minutes left (62-58). Turnovers and fouls in the final two minutes by the Beavers gave the Yellow Jackets the steam they needed to win the contest 76-58.
For the game Bluffton shot 40 percent (21-of-52) compared to Defiance’s 50 percent average (26-of-52). The Beavers pulled down 27 rebounds as the Yellow Jackets posted 37 total boards.
Bluffton University 46, Manchester College 83
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Bluffton University women’s basketball team (4-21, 1-13 HCAC) was defeated 83-46 by Manchester College (10-15, 4-10 HCAC) on Feb. 19.
Leading the Beavers on the afternoon was freshman Angie Lee (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) with a career-high 14 points. Sophomore Tanya Rickenberg (Paulding/Paulding) posted ten points and three assists (team high). Freshman Ashleigh Stallkamp (Paulding/Paulding) added ten points and pulled down six rebounds (team high).
Manchester started the game by going on a seven point run as Bluffton did not score until Angie Lee hit a three-pointer at the 18 minute mark. The Spartans continued to connect on key shots as they took a 13 point advantage into the locker room (39-26). The Beavers started out the second half strong as they took Manchester’s lead down to ten points with a Stallkmap lay-up (40-30). Fouls by Bluffton and key shooting by Manchester gave them the contest, 83-46.
The Beavers shot 31 percent from the field (17-of-54) compared to the Spartans 39 percent field goal shooting (26-of-66). Bluffton pulled down 32 rebounds as Manchester hauled in 50 boards.
Leading the Beavers on the season
HCAC team statistics
Bluffton currently leads the Heartland Conference in blocked shots (115 total) with a 4.60 per game average. The team ranks third in offensive rebounds with 365 total (14.60 per game). The Beavers hold the sixth place spots in the HCAC in both assists (310 total) and steals (201 total).
Individual statistical leaders
Ashleigh Stallkamp leads Bluffton in scoring with 360 total points (14.4 points per game) and ranks seventh in the HCAC. Stallkamp also leads the team in steals with 53 (sixth in HCAC) and rebounds with 149 (13th in HCAC). Tanya Rickenberg averages 11.1 points per game (266 total points) to rank second on the team and 15th in the conference. Rickenberg leads the team in assists with 58 (12th in HCAC) and in free throw percentage with a .673 average (ninth in HCAC). Karin Schaller leads Bluffton and the Heartland Conference in blocked shots with 63 and ranks 12th in NCAA Division III (through Feb. 13). Schaller ranks second on the team in rebounds with 135 on the year (16th in HCAC).
