Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College women's basketball team lost its first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) contest of the season, losing a hard-fought contest 69-68 to Bluffton University on Saturday from the Spurlock Center.

The matchup featured the last two undefeated teams in HCAC action after three December league games.

Senior Katie Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies. Freshman Maddie O'Day (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) tallied a career-high 15 points and made all three of her shots from behind the arc.

Junior Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) added nine points, while juniors Emily Alfrey (Fairland, Ind./Triton Central) and Kayle Comer (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) each scored eight points.

Franklin (7-4, 3-1 HCAC) led 22-12 after the first quarter and had a 39-29 halftime advantage behind 46.9 percent shooting.

Bluffton (11-0, 4-0 HCAC) connected on 24 of 27 free throw attempts in the second half. Overall, the Beavers made 35 of their 40 free throw attempts in the contest. Bluffton went on a 12-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 61-59, after two free throws by Macey Sheerer with 2:54 left.

Franklin answered with a jumper by Brewer to square the contest. She later gave the hosts a 63-61 lead after converting a layup at the 2:09 mark. Bluffton's Kaitlyn Pennekamp made two free throws to tie the game with 1:57 remaining. The visitors took a 65-63 lead with 39 seconds left after a jumper by Sheerer. Following a Franklin turnover, Taylor Knight made two free throws with seven seconds left to extend the margin to 67-63. Franklin got within two points, 67-65, after a layup by Brewer with five seconds remaining. Bluffton's Knight once again made two free throws to secure the victory with five seconds left.

A three-point field goal by DeSutter just before the buzzer brought the final margin to one point.

Franklin returns to action on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. when it begins a three-game conference road swing beginning at Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana. Live statistics and video of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).