Box Score Haggenjos Video
Thompson Video
Franklin, Ind. - Four players scored in double figures as the Franklin College women's basketball team improved to 2-0 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play with a 78-68 win over Bluffton University on Saturday from the Spurlock Center.
Junior Katie Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) led the balanced effort with 21 points and 14 rebounds. She added four assists, four blocks, and two steals.
Sophomore Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) scored 16 points, while sophomore Kayle Comer (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) and senior Nichole Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) each chipped in 13 points off the bench.
Sophomore Mandy Fisher (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had three assists to round out the strong performances.
Franklin (4-1, 2-0 HCAC) used an 11-4 run to take a 24-16 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Comer connected on one of her three three-point field goals to give the hosts the eight-point advantage.
The lead grew to 33-20 after a three-point play by Thompson at the 3:50 mark of the first half. Bluffton (5-2, 1-1 HCAC) scored six straight points to get the deficit into single digits. Franklin led 35-28 at halftime after holding the Beavers to 27 percent shooting in the first half.
In the second half, Bluffton scored 10 of the first 14 points to trim the lead to 39-38 after a basket by Taylor Whitaker at the 16:43 mark. She later tied the game at 44-44 after a three pointer with 15:16 left in the game.
Franklin's DeSutter connected on consecutive jumpers to stretch the lead to 48-44 with 12:34 remaining. Comer drained a three pointer to give the Grizzlies a 57-51 lead at the 8:29 mark.
Bluffton got within five points, 60-55, after a layup from Kaitlyn Pennekamp with 7:26 left. However, Franklin scored seven of the next eight points to build an 11-point lead, 67-56, with 4:48 remaining. The Beavers never threatened in the closing minutes.
Franklin held a 44-24 rebounding edge and had 18 assists on its 26 field goals. The Grizzlies shot 48 percent from the floor in the contest.
The team returns to action on Saturday, December 13, at 1 p.m. when it travels to Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Live audio and statistics of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics).
