BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Franklin College women's basketball team tipped off post-season play on Sunday (Feb. 20) afternoon, taking on the Bluffton Beavers in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament.

A back-and-forth battle came down to the final minutes, but the Grizzlies (8-16) fell just short in their bid to advance to the semifinals in a 55-48 loss to the Beavers (19-6).

How it Happened
Points were at a premium from the opening tip, with the two teams combining for nine first quarter field goals. A pair of threes from Kayla Bruner gave Franklin a lead late in the period, but two Bluffton buckets before the quarter horn evened things up at 12 after 10 minutes of play. The second quarter featured more of the same, with the Grizzlies keeping Bluffton scoreless over the final 5:31 of the half. Combined with an 8-0 FC run, the guests held a 25-19 lead after one half of play.

Momentum shifted in the third quarter, with the Beavers rattling off an 18-6 run to close out the third with a 39-35 lead. The two teams were tied at 45 with 4:51 to play, but Franklin couldn't get the go-ahead bucket before the final horn sounded.

Inside the Box Score
-Sarah O'Day led Franklin with 11 points, followed by Bruner with nine and Destinee Cross with eight.
-Rebounding played a critical role in the final score, with Bluffton pulling in 56 rebounds to 37 for FC. The Beavers also held a 22-8 edge in second chance points.