For Immediate Release:
Dec. 21, 2006

RICHMOND, Ind. — An extra period wasn’t what the Earlham College women’s basketball team needed on Thursday afternoon as the Quakers dropped a 67-66 decision to Bluffton University on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center.

Leading by one point with 14 seconds remaining in overtime, the Quakers forced Bluffton’s Tanya Rickenberg to miss her attempt a game-winning basket. The problem for Earlham was that Rickenberg grabbed the rebound and hit her next shot just before the final buzzer to give the Beavers the victory.

“Our play was inconsistent throughout the day,” Earlham Head Coach Liana Coutts said. “We had some good plays and then we had some mental letdowns. We still didn’t give up, but mentally we just weren’t in the right place.”

Junior Whitney McBurrows (Lansing, MI/J.W. Sexton) led the Quakers with 14 points, while classmate Samantha Lurie (Lansing, MI/J.W.Sexton) tossed in 11 points. Lurie also led the Quakers with eight rebounds and five assists.

First-years Shontavia Davis (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) and Starr Gary (Indianapolis, IN/Northwest) added 10 points each. Gary finished with seven rebounds.

Bluffton (2-9) led early in the game before Lurie put the Quakers in front 16-15 with 11:13 left in the opening half. Earlham maintained its advantage to lead 28-25 by intermission.

Earlham led the entire second half until the final moments of regulation. Bluffton tied the game at 58-58 with 25 seconds left.

In overtime, Earlham scored the first four points to lead 62-58 with 3:52 remaining. The Beavers eventually tied it at 62-62 at the 2:04 mark. McBurrows gave the Quakers a 64-62 lead with a basket, but it didn’t last as Bluffton hit a 3-pointer with 1:02 left.

A pair of free throws by junior Lisa Vanderkolk (Bluffton, IN/ Bluffton) put Earlham on top 66-65 with 25 seconds on the clock to set the stage for Bluffton’s game-winner.

The Quakers (2-9) are back in action against Anderson University at home on Dec. 30. The non-conference contest begins at 3 p.m. Box Score.

—EC —

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don