By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern

The Bluffton University women's basketball team traveled to long-time rival Defiance College on Wednesday, February 16. The Beavers were down 31-27 at the break and the Yellow Jackets outscored Bluffton 42-36 in the second half for a 73-63 win. Bluffton fell to 9-15 overall and 6-11 in the Heartland Conference, while Defiance improved to 11-13 overall and 9-8 in the HCAC.

Senior Kim Miller (Delphos/St. John's) sparked the Bluffton offense with a layin at the 17:33 mark. A triple from Erica King gave Defiance a 10-5 lead four minutes into the game.

A quick bucket at the other end of the floor by Lauren Hutton (New Riegel) and a Kylee Burkholder (West Unity/Hilltop) jumper pulled the Beavers within one (10-9) with 14:35 left in the opening half.

For the next five minutes the two rivals traded baskets, but a layin from Hutton and a Beth Yoder (Marshallville/Smithville) trifecta gave Bluffton the lead, 18-16, at the 9:05 mark. The Beavers went on an 8-0 run with a triple by Kim Meyer (Millbury/Lake) and a bucket from Miller. The home team fought back with baskets by Tasha Stucke and Molly Batemen to give the Yellow Jackets a four-point advantage at halftime, 31-27.

Defiance came out ready to play in the second half with a trifecta and a couple of freebies from Brooke Zachrich. Meyer responded with a triple that brought the Beavers within six (36-30). A layin by Kim Comden at the 16:47 mark gave Defiance an eight-point cushion, 38-30.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Rachel Ciminillo and King gave Defiance a 14-point spread, 48-34, with 12:51 left. A bucket by Hannah Harshman gave Defiance an 18-point lead before a Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee) jumper and a layin by Miller trimmed the deficit to 13 (52-39).

For the next six minutes, Defiance kept its lead in double digits with a Harshman jumper and a bucket from Bateman. A Hutton jumper and a Yoder triple pulled Bluffton within seven (68-61) with less than two minutes to play. A couple of free throws by Stucke and a Bateman layin sent the Yellow Jackets to a 73-63 victory in HCAC action.

Bluffton hit 26-of-73 (35.6 percent) from the field, and Defiance made 22-of-57 (43.9 percent). The Beavers only went to the line seven times, compared to 22 attempts for the Yellow Jackets. Bluffton out-rebounded Defiance 51-34, but turned the ball over 23 times compared to the Yellow Jackets' 15 miscues.

Kim Miller led the Beavers with 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for her 13 career double-double. Meyer went 4-of-8 from behind the arc, ending with 12 markers. Hutton had her first collegiate double-double with 11 counters and 11 boards.

Defiance placed four players in double digits, including Zachrich with 15, Bateman with 12 and Harshman and Stucke each with 11.

The Bluffton University women's basketball team will end its regular season at Earlham College on Saturday, February 19. The battle between the Beavers and the Quakers is slated for 1 p.m.